Advanced Placement US History (AP US History) Practice Exam

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What did the Missouri Compromise of 1820 establish?

Maine as a slave state
Missouri as a free state
Maine as a free state and Missouri as a slave state
The abolition of slavery in all western territories

The correct answer is: Maine as a free state and Missouri as a slave state

The Missouri Compromise of 1820 was a significant legislative agreement that established a balance between free and slave states in the United States. This compromise specifically admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, maintaining an equal number of free and slave states in the Senate. Additionally, it established a geographic line (the 36°30' parallel) across the Louisiana Territory, where slavery would be prohibited north of this line, except for Missouri. By including both Maine and Missouri in the compromise, it sought to ease tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions. The decision was seen as critical in preventing heightened conflict over the expansion of slavery into new territories as the nation expanded westward. This was a temporary solution to a pressing sectional issue, reflecting the ongoing struggle over slavery in America. Ultimately, this compromise was an important step towards understanding the escalating conflicts that would later culminate in the Civil War, as it indicated that while temporary peace might be achieved, the underlying issues related to slavery were far from resolved.