No. 05 · The Presidents
James Monroe
1817-1825
Monroe signed the Missouri Compromise in 1820, prohibiting slavery in the former Louisiana Territory north of latitude line 36°30', except within the boundaries of the proposed state of Missouri. This compromise, intended to keep congressional slave state/free state power equal, not only contradicted Monroe's professed defense of the constitutional rights of individual states, but also created a literal splitting of the Union, promoting the possibility for secession.
Lyrics
Em, C, G, D/F♯
Monroe signed the Missouri Compromise
To keep the slave/free state power
Even on both sides
But with this bill he drew
A pointed prickly line in the sand
Saying North vs. South, fighting words, bloody hands
36°30', except for in Missouri
everyone's happy
more important than free
36°30', except for in Missouri
somebody's crying
as long it ain't me
Monroe signed the Missouri Compromise
To keep the slave/free state power
Even on both sides
But with this bill, all that he did
Was pick the sides of war to come
In the hopes of being “civil”
From the book, published 2009 · song & page updated
36°30'