Question

Why do you believe the south wanted to maintain an equal balance between slave states and free

states in the Senate?

Answer 1

If you have more slave states then free states, or more free states then slave states, voting wouldn’t have been equal and fair. More of one side will result in an unfair voting, because free state citizens would want to vote for a president who is against anti-slavery, like Abraham Lincoln, and slave owners living in slave states would want to vote for a president who is pro-slavery. Having an equal number of free an slave states makes the voting equal, and makes everyone have an equal representation in congress.


Hope this helps :)

Answer 2

The continuation of the balance between slave and free states was important given the nature of the Congress and the balance of power between the competing sides in the issue. ... Compromises were needed to equalize the power between proslavery and antislavery interests in the government to keep the Union together.