Why did the application of missouri territory for statehood cause two years of intense debate? (5 points) it applied to become a slave state, but the tallmadge amendment had wide support, which would force it to abolish slavery at once. congress had not yet determined an official process for admitting new states from the area known as the louisiana purchase. it applied to become a free state, but there were already slave owners living there who would be forced to leave or free their slaves. congress was concerned about how admitting it as a slave state would affect representation and the balance of power between states.

Congress was concerned about how admitting it as a slave state would affect representation and the balance of power between states.

Explanation:

During that period, Missouri was a huge area that was called Missouri Territory and by 1819, there were enough people in part of that so it could be considered a state. But to be considered a state the Congress had to approve it.

In that period there was a struggle between free states and pro-slavery states the union wanted a balance between those two and the addition of a new state could ruin that balance.

The admission of Missouri would have added a slave state to the Senate and left northern non-slave states as a minority. This is the reason the application of Missouri caused a two-year debate.

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