What did the Missouri Compromise specifically prohibit?

The Missouri Compromise specifically prohibited slavery in territories north of the 36°30' parallel, which was drawn as part of the compromise to maintain a balance between free and slave states. The agreement allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state while Maine entered as a free state, thus preserving the political balance between free and slave states. Furthermore, this line became a significant boundary that delineated where slavery would be permitted in the western territories.

The importance of the Missouri Compromise lies in its attempt to quell the growing tensions regarding the expansion of slavery into new territories as the nation expanded westward. By establishing this clear geographical line where slavery would be limited, the compromise aimed to prevent further conflicts between the northern and southern states over the issue of slavery.