Missouri was important to the South that it be admitted to the Union as a slave state because it could tip the balance between pro-slavery and anti-slavery states in the Union. This had become a very sensitive issue. To solve this dilemma, it came up with the Missouri Compromise of 1820. Under this compromise, Congress was allowed to admit Missouri as a state but it also admitted the Main to the Union as well. This kept the balance between the states and maintained the peace.