Download The Missouri Compromise

Name_______________________________
Period __________
The Missouri Compromise
Directions: Use the interactive map on the website provided to answer the following
questions in complete sentences.
 The Missouri Compromise – 1820 link on class website
North – ME, NH, VT, MA, CT, RI, NY, NJ, PA
South – DE, MD, VA, NC, SC, GA, AL, MS, LA
West – OH, IN, IL, KY, TN, MO
1. Which region, North or South, had the most land area in 1820? (This can be calculated by adding
together all the square miles of the states listed above for the regions. Compare the two
numbers.) Show work.
North: 161,976 sq. mi.
South: 357,168 sq. mi.
2. Which region was more closely densely populated? Give a numerical comparison of the North,
South, and West by finding the state that is “typical” of the region. Only include STATES.
North: New York (28.8)
South: North Carolina (13.1)
West: Tennessee (10.1)
3. Which region had the higher population of black people? Find the state with the greatest number
of black people and compare it to the state with the least number of black people.
LEAST – North: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont (1,000)
West: Indiana & Illinois (1,000)
Total (111,000)
Total (230,000)
GREATEST – South: Virginia (465,000)
Total (1,420,000)
4. In what two southern states did the black population outnumber the white population? List the
state and the population numbers. Why might this be the case?
South Carolina – Blacks (265,000) Whites (237,000)
Louisiana – Blacks (80,000) Whites (74,000)
Name_______________________________
Period __________
The Missouri Compromise
5. In which region can you find states where the female population outnumbered the male
population? Name the states & numbers. Why might this be the case?
North [New England] – New Hampshire (124,000 to 120,000)
Massachusetts (268,000 to 255,000)
Rhode Island (43,000 to 40,000)
Connecticut (141,000 to 135,000)
6. Compare the land area in the territories where slavery was prohibited (Michigan & Unorganized
territory) with that of the territories where slavery was permitted (Arkansas & Florida). Show
work.
Prohibited: 794,617 sq. mi.
Permitted: 160,136 sq. mi.
7. What changes did the Missouri Compromise bring to the U.S. Map? Look at your completed
map!
8. How did the Missouri Compromise solve the problem of keeping the balance of power in the
Senate between free and slave states?
Added two new states by the year 1821. Maine as a free state & Missouri as a slave state.
9. What territory was added to the slave side?
Arkansas Territory was added to the slave side through the Missouri Compromise.
10. What territory was to be kept free of slavery?
The Unorganized Territory [remaining portion of the Louisiana Purchase] was kept free
from slavery by the Missouri Compromise.
Processing Questions:
11. Why would the South begin to look to the land to the west of the borders of the U.S. in what
was then part of Mexico?
There was a limited amount of territory to extend slavery into by the Missouri
Compromise. This would limit the number of new states that would enter as slave states
in the future. Much of the Spanish Possessions would lie below the established
free/slave boundary if acquired in the future.
12. Could either side be considered the winner in this compromise? Why or why not?
ANSWERS MAY VARY