The Missouri Compromise

Summary
This lesson introduces students to the Missouri Compromise.

Objectives
• To be able to explain the Missouri Compromise.

• To be able to describe what the Mason-Dixon line is.

• To be able to describe the results of Dred Scott?s case.

Suggested Grades
3rd Grade
4th Grade
5th Grade

Excerpt
The North wanted the new states to agree with them, while the South wanted the new states to vote for what the South wanted. Mostly, the South wanted the new states to be slave states, where were states where it was legal to own slaves. The North disagreed. They wanted the new states to be free states. In a free state, slavery was forbidden. If either the North or the South gained a majority of representatives and senators in Congress, they would be able to pass laws against the wishes of the other side.

In 1819, the United States was evenly balanced between slave states and free states. There were eleven slave states and eleven free states. Missouri applied to be admitted to the Union. Missouri wanted to be a slave state. This caused many debates in Congress.

Continued...