U.S. Citizenship Civics Test1800sHard
The Missouri Compromise of 1820 was a legislative agreement that attempted to resolve disputes over which critical issue in newly acquired U.S. territories?
- AThe regulation of interstate commerce.
- BThe establishment of public education systems.
- CThe expansion of slavery.
- DThe right to religious freedom.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. The expansion of slavery.
The Missouri Compromise of 1820 was a crucial legislative effort to address the growing sectional tensions over the expansion of slavery into new western territories. It allowed Missouri to enter as a slave state and Maine as a free state, while prohibiting slavery in the remaining Louisiana Purchase territory north of the 36°30′ parallel.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Interstate commerce was primarily regulated by Congress, but not the direct subject of this compromise.
- B. Public education was a social reform but not the focus of the Missouri Compromise.
- D. Religious freedom was largely settled by the Bill of Rights.
Missouri Compromise (1820)
A federal statute of the United States that regulated slavery in the country's western territories by prohibiting the practice in the former Louisiana Territory north of the 36°30′ parallel, except within the boundaries of the proposed state of Missouri.
- Allowed Missouri to enter as a slave state and Maine as a free state.
- Drew a line (36°30′ parallel) to divide future free and slave territories.
- Maintained the balance of power between free and slave states in the Senate.
- Temporarily eased sectional tensions but did not resolve the core conflict over slavery.
Memory trick: Compromises tried to draw lines, but slavery's shadow grew.