What was the outcome of the Missouri Compromise?

• A. Allowed Missouri and Maine to enter the Union with specific conditions
• B. Established a coequal partnership between slave and free states
• C. Eliminated slavery in all territories
• D. Created a southern boundary for all future states

Answer: (A)

The outcome of the Missouri Compromise is best described as the allowance for Missouri and Maine to enter the Union with specific conditions. This agreement, passed in 1820, admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, aiming to maintain the balance between free and slave states in the Senate. This compromise was significant in addressing the sectional tensions that arose from the expansion of slavery into newly acquired territories and states following the Louisiana Purchase.

The Missouri Compromise also established the 36°30′ parallel as a boundary line where slavery would be prohibited in the Louisiana Territory north of this line, except for Missouri. This maintained a delicate balance between the interests of the North and South and marked an early attempt to manage the contentious issue of slavery in the expanding nation.

The other options do not accurately reflect the compromises made. For instance, the establishment of a coequal partnership between slave and free states oversimplifies the complex political dynamics, while the total elimination of slavery in all territories was not a result of this compromise. Additionally, while the compromise did create a boundary concerning slavery, it was not a comprehensive southern boundary for all future states beyond the specified areas.