Who was the Speaker of the House that proposed the Missouri Compromise in 1820?

The proposal of the Missouri Compromise in 1820 is attributed to Henry Clay, who served as the Speaker of the House at that time. The Missouri Compromise was a significant legislative agreement aimed at addressing the contentious issue of slavery's expansion into newly acquired territories. Clay sought to maintain a balance between free and slave states in the Union, leading to Missouri's admission as a slave state and Maine's admission as a free state. This compromise was crucial in temporarily easing tensions between the North and South over the slavery debate, highlighting Clay's role as a key figure in early 19th-century American politics and his focus on promoting national unity. His efforts played a pivotal role in shaping the legislative landscape of the era, making him known as the “Great Compromiser.”