Final answer:
The purpose of admitting one slave state and one free state was to maintain a balance of power between the North and the South in the ideologically divided United States.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Purpose of Admitting Slave States and Free States
At the time, the United States was deeply divided over the issue of slavery. The purpose of admitting one slave state and one free state was a way to maintain a balance of power between the North and the South. This was done to prevent one side from gaining too much influence in Congress and to maintain the delicate equilibrium between the free and slave states.
By admitting one state from each side, it was hoped that this compromise would appease both factions and prevent further conflict. For example, the Missouri Compromise of 1820 admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, maintaining the balance.
However, this compromise only delayed the growing tensions over slavery and ultimately failed to address the underlying issues, leading to more conflicts and eventually the American Civil War.
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