The Missouri Compromise. The fear of politicians was that if Missouri was admitted as a slave state the Louisiana Purchase would be influenced in terms of allowing or disallowing slavery.

Authors Avatar

Oliver Diaz
1/29/12

The Missouri Compromise

        The Missouri Compromise was an effect of the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution brought two new machines to the states that would change the economy drastically. First, there was the cotton “gin” engine created by Eli Whitney in 1793 which allowed for 50 times more cotton to be cleaned in a day (Jordan 248). Secondly, which may be considered more crucial, was the textile mill. Without the help of Samuel Slater, a skilled British mechanic who memorized the design for an entire textile mill and brought it to States, the cotton engine would have been seemingly useless (250). The purpose of these machines was to clean mass amounts of cotton and then turn it into thread and textile which could be used to make clothing. This sudden heightened demand for cotton seemed to reignite the demand for slaves. However, in 1808, Jefferson made the importation of slaves illegal, in turn, creating a huge domestic slave trade. As slavery raged, the large westward acquired territory, known as the Louisiana Purchase, lingered and an unexpected issue arose. According to the Northwest Ordinance, a state could apply for statehood if they had five thousand voting residents and a government. Missouri fit these requirements and applied to become a state, but the large westward territory would surely be influenced by the admission of another slave state in the Union. Hence, a compromise had to be reached.

Join now!

        The fear of politicians was that if Missouri was admitted as a slave state the Louisiana Purchase would be influenced in terms of allowing or disallowing slavery. However, when words were exchanged both Northerners and Southerners had reasons to fight for slavery and against it. Even though slavery was illegal in the north, northerners still lent money to southerners so they could buy slaves and land to produce cotton. Politically, the compromise appeared to want to maintain balance. When thinking of its motives, it is seen that this compromise reflects both national and sectional interests. It reflects the national interest ...

This is a preview of the whole essay