Question

in the early 1800s, at the time the missouri territory requested statehood,
there were more slave states than free states.
there were more free states than slave states.
there was an equal number of slave and free states.
there was no longer a division over slavery.

Explanation:

To solve this, we recall the context of Missouri's statehood request in the early 1800s. Before Missouri's application, the number of slave states and free states was equal. This led to the Missouri Compromise. The other options are incorrect: there wasn't a majority of one over the other (ruling out first two), and division over slavery was prominent (ruling out the last).

Answer:

C. there was an equal number of slave and free states.