Which President signed the Missouri Compromise into law?

The Missouri Compromise was signed into law by President James Monroe on March 6, 1820. This legislation was a significant moment in U.S. history, as it aimed to resolve the contentious issue of slavery in the expanding territories of the United States. The compromise permitted Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state while simultaneously admitting Maine as a free state to maintain the balance of power between slave and free states in Congress. Additionally, it established a boundary line at the latitude of 36°30′ north, north of which slavery was prohibited in the remaining territories of the Louisiana Purchase.

Monroe's presidency was marked by efforts to promote national unity and resolve sectional disputes, and the Missouri Compromise was a key example of this. Through this legislative action, Monroe sought to navigate the deeply divisive and emotional topic of slavery, aiming to preserve the fragile peace between the North and South at that time.