Though Missouri was ready for statehood, the problem was that it was a slave state. The U.S. government was trying to maintain a sensitive balance between Free state and slave state. To solve this problem, they took in Main which was a free state thereby maintaining the balance.
Explanation:In 1818, when Missouri was ready for statehood, its settlers. opposed westward expansion. wanted slavery to be legal. resisted becoming a new state. wanted slavery to be outlawed.
