What was the aim of the Crittenden Compromise offered by Senator Crittenden?

The Crittenden Compromise aimed to resolve the growing sectional conflict over slavery in the United States prior to the Civil War. It was proposed by Senator John J. Crittenden in late 1860 and sought to prevent Southern states from seceding from the Union. The key component of this compromise was the proposal to extend the Missouri Compromise line of 36º30' westward, thereby allowing slavery to be recognized and protected in all territories south of that line.

This approach was intended to appease Southern states and maintain the Union by creating a clear demarcation that would secure their interests regarding slavery. The premise was that by giving legal protections to slavery in the territories south of the line, the Crittenden Compromise could avert the immediate crisis over slavery and prevent the fracture of the nation. Thus, the proposal fundamentally aimed to balance the interests of slaveholding states with those of free states at a time of significant national tension over this issue.