In the space below, explain why the people in the missouri territory were satisfied with the missouri compromise, and why the southern or northern states accepted the decision as well.

Residents of the Missouri territory were satisfied because it gave them the right to use slave labour on their plantations.

Northern states were not happy with THAT portion, but they were mollified by the admittance of Maine as a free state to offset the entrance of Missouri on the slave state side of the Congressional balance. They also approved of the decision to ban slavery in territories north of the 36•30' parallel.

Southern states were pleased that there would be no restrictions (in theory) on the expansion of slavery in southern territories but were not happy to see limitations placed on it geographically and worried about attempts to deprive them of their slaves should they travel through a free state or territory.

Everyone accepted it as a truce in the tense tug-of-war to keep Congress evenly balanced between the free and the slave states. It was a delicate peace that would last a little more than 30 years before the debate over Kansas and Nebraska would ignite the storm again.