Question

How would the formation of states in the Michigan, Arkansas, and Florida territories probably affect the balance that the Missouri Compromise tried to maintain?

Answer 1

Answer: The Missouri Compromise made it a requirement that one free state be entered for every slave state. So it was crucial to enter in pairs to keep a balance.

Explanation: Both Arkansas and Florida were territories who wished to enter the Union but needed to enter with a free state to maintain balance mandated by the Missouri Compromise. Arkansas entered with Michigan, had they not "paired" with Michigan then Florida could have and Arkansas would have had to wait for another free state to pair with before entry.

Answer 2

The balance of power between slave states and free states would have been upset. If representative of slave or free states would have been in the Senate and the House of Representatives because of newly formed states, their agenda would have been superior to the other agenda every time.