Missouri Compromise

Basically the first event leading to the beginning of the Civil War, the Missouri Compromise was a very important event in stopping a Civil War from occurring immediately. At the time, there was a balanced number of slave and free states. This meant equal numbers in the senate, and an equal voice for both. Alas, when Missouri came along, begging for admission into the United States as a slave state, the north and south did not know what to do. The north said, "No! We will not allow the south to have power!", while the south exclaimed, "Yes! We shall have the power in the senate!". Then, an idea was formed to keep the power in balance. Massachusetts would split, and the new part would be a new free state, Maine, while Missouri would be accepted as a slave state. Another part of the compromise stated that no slavery would be allowed higher than the 36 30 parallel. This kept a Civil War from breaking out then and there.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/Missouri_Compromise_Line.svg