Missouri, Texas, + Mexico

• As states applied to join the union, the question was whether it would be a slave state or a free state
• Southerners were concerned about the widening of disparity in numbers of North and South
• In 1790, population of North and South states were equal
• By 1850, the North outnumbered the South by more than 3:2
• Since the North held more seats in the House of Representatives, Southerners were determined for equality in the Senate as they didn't want slavery abolished.