What Was the Missouri Compromise?: And Other Questions about the Struggle over Slavery

Six Questions of American History

by Wendy Lanier

When the Missouri Territory applied for statehood in 1818, the United States had an equal number of free states and slave states. The territory's leaders wanted Missouri to be a slave state. But that would have destroyed the balance of representation in Congress. A heated debate broke out. The southern representatives and Missouri's leaders thought states should be able to decide the slavery question for themselves. Northern members of Congress thought otherwise. Would the Union split apart over the question of slavery? The Missouri Compromise settled the argument and saved the Union―temporarily.

So why was the Missouri Compromise of 1820 so controversial?
Who was the great compromiser?
What were the terms of the Missouri Compromise?

Discover the facts about one of the most debated compromises in U.S. history.

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

Complicated, so complicated I can't say it was interesting.

[Andrew Gallini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Six Questions of American History: What Was the Missouri Compromise?- Wendy Lanier

The early beginnings of our country were a time of progression and compromise (no pun intended). The Missouri Compromise of 1820 is a topic that students in early elementary will come across. If presented poorly, it can be a mundane topic that children can be easily bored by. However if given rich detail and imagery, children will find it an interesting and enriching lesson.

This book aims to take the Missouri Compromise and make it presentable to children, and it works. The information given is presented in a way that children will not find “textbook” heavy. Any complicated vocabulary is presented with definitions on the side. Paintings and documents from the era are spread through the book and are bordered with information. Given all these aspects, this will make the subject accessible and enjoyable to upper elementary students.