36°30′ parallel

The 36°30′ parallel is an important line of latitude in the United States, historically significant as the boundary between free and slave states before the Civil War. It runs east-west and is notably associated with the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which allowed slavery in territories south of this line and prohibited it north of it, except for Missouri. This compromise aimed to balance the power between free and slave states in Congress and highlighted the growing tensions over slavery—a key issue leading to the Civil War. Today, it serves as a historical reference point in discussions about U.S. territorial expansion and civil rights.