What was the outcome of the Missouri Compromise for the future of slavery in the United States?

The Missouri Compromise, enacted in 1820, aimed to maintain a balance between slave and free states as the United States expanded westward. By admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, the compromise ensured that there was an equal number of slave and free states in the Senate, thereby preserving the political power of both sides.

Additionally, the compromise established a boundary at latitude 36°30′, north of which slavery would be prohibited in the Louisiana Territory, except for Missouri. This arrangement temporarily alleviated tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions, creating a fragile equilibrium that allowed both sides to coexist for a time.

However, it is important to note that this compromise did not resolve the underlying conflicts surrounding slavery; instead, it merely postponed confrontation. The balance it created would soon be challenged by new territories and states entering the Union, ultimately leading to rising tensions that contributed to the Civil War. This underscores why the outcome of the Missouri Compromise is best understood as establishing a temporary balance rather than a definitive solution regarding the future of slavery in the United States.