1818--Northern states held a 105-81 majority in the House of Representatives

--Senate votes were divided evenly between the 22 states

1819--Missouri asks to become a slave state

A) Northern states were worried about the balance in the Senate.

B) Questions came up about admitting new states to the Union

Tallmadge Amendment--Failed in the Senate

Clay’s Proposal-Missouri Compromise

1) Missouri admitted as a slave state

2) Maine admitted as a free state

3) North of the 36º30’ latitude line in the Louisiana Territory there was to be no NEW slave states

Signed by President Monroe--March, 1820