How does the Missouri Compromise reflect the strong sense of nationalism Americans felt for their country in the early 1800s?

American leaders in congress wanted to preserve the Union at all costs. The issue of slavery was divisive and ultimately led to the Civil War, but in the year 1820, congressmen reached an agreement to preserve the Union in spite of the slavery divide.

To keep balance in the Senate between Northern States, were slavery was illegal, and Southern States, were slavery was entrenched in social and economic life, Missouri was accepted as a slave state, and Main as a free state at the same time. Besides, slavery became prohibited above the Parallel 36 30 North except for Missouri.