missouri compromise: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowHistorical / Academic
Quick answer
What does “missouri compromise” mean?
A legislative agreement passed by the U.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A legislative agreement passed by the U.S. Congress in 1820 that admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, and prohibited slavery north of the 36°30′ parallel within the Louisiana Purchase territory.
A pivotal historical event in 19th-century American politics that temporarily resolved the conflict between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in the United States over the expansion of slavery into western territories, establishing a geographical boundary for its spread.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or definition differences. The term is specific to U.S. history, thus far more common in American English contexts. In British English, it is encountered almost exclusively in historical or academic discussions of U.S. history.
Connotations
In American English, it connotes a temporary political solution, sectional tension, and the lead-up to the Civil War. In British English, it is a neutral, factual historical reference.
Frequency
Exclusively used in American historical/academic contexts; extremely rare in general British English.
Grammar
How to Use “missouri compromise” in a Sentence
The [YEAR] Missouri Compromise [VERB: established/admitted/prohibited]The repeal of the Missouri Compromise [VERB: led to/sparked]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “missouri compromise” in a Sentence
adjective
American English
- The Missouri Compromise line became a symbolic border.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Central term in U.S. history courses and scholarship on slavery, westward expansion, and the causes of the Civil War.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation outside of specific historical discussion.
Technical
Used as a precise historical and legal term denoting the specific act of Congress (3 Stat. 545).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “missouri compromise”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “missouri compromise”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “missouri compromise”
- Using lowercase ('missouri compromise').
- Referring to it as a general concept rather than the specific 1820 act.
- Confusing it with the Compromise of 1850.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It was successful as a temporary political solution, maintaining sectional peace for over 30 years. However, it failed as a long-term solution, as it did not resolve the fundamental moral and political conflict over slavery, leading to its repeal and subsequent violence.
This was the latitude line established by the Missouri Compromise. Slavery was prohibited in the Louisiana Purchase lands north of this line (except for Missouri itself). It became a powerful symbolic division between 'free soil' and slave territory.
It represents the first major federal attempt to legislate on slavery's expansion. Its eventual repeal in 1854 intensified sectional hatred, demonstrated the impossibility of a permanent political compromise on slavery, and is seen as a key step on the path to secession and war.
No, it is not common in everyday language. It is a specialist historical term, primarily used in educational, academic, and historical discourse within the United States.
A legislative agreement passed by the U.
Missouri compromise is usually historical / academic in register.
Missouri compromise: in British English it is pronounced /mɪˌzʊə.ri ˈkɒm.prə.maɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /mɪˈzʊɹ.i ˈkɑm.pɹəˌmaɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember 'M' and 'M': Missouri and Maine entered together to maintain the balance, and the compromise drew a line on the map (36°30′) to map out the future conflict.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PRECARIOUS BALANCE (often described as a 'band-aid' solution or a 'powder keg' with a lit fuse).
Practice
Quiz
What was the primary significance of the Missouri Compromise of 1820?