What was the purpose of the Missouri Compromise of 1820?

The Missouri Compromise of 1820 primarily aimed to address the contentious issue of slavery's expansion into the western territories of the United States. It was a pivotal agreement in maintaining the delicate balance between slave and free states. The compromise allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state while simultaneously admitting Maine as a free state. This was crucial in keeping the number of slave states and free states equal, thus preventing potential conflict between the two factions.

Furthermore, the Missouri Compromise also included the provision that prohibited slavery in the remaining territories of the Louisiana Purchase north of the 36°30′ latitude line, effectively restricting the spread of slavery into those northern territories. This regulation was an early attempt to manage tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions and laid the groundwork for future discussions, albeit temporary solutions, related to slavery in America.