| The Mason-Dixon line, although drawn in 1763, is | | | | had been almost completely surveyed by the pair, |
| still used today to describe the division between | | | | finally settling the dispute. The line as originally |
| the northern and southern parts of the United | | | | surveyed by the pair was marked by stones |
| States. | | | | every mile and larger "crownstones" every five |
| The area was first surveyed by Charles Mason | | | | miles. Though many today are missing or buried, |
| and Jeremiah Dixon to settle a property dispute. | | | | some are still visible. |
| Although the line would come to have historical | | | | Over five decades later, the area would again be |
| importance years later, it was first drawn to | | | | thrown into controversy, although this time on a |
| settle a dispute between descendants of George | | | | national scale. The same boundary delineated by |
| Calvert of Maryland and William Penn of | | | | the Mason-Dixon line became the main debate of |
| Pennsylvania over the boundary between the two | | | | the Missouri Compromise of 1820. This |
| states. According to the charters originally granted | | | | compromise used that line as the boundary |
| to Calvert and Penn for establishing Maryland and | | | | between southern (slave) states and northern |
| Pennsylvania, respectively, the land between the | | | | (free) states, as Pennsylvania had officially |
| 39th and 40th parallels belonged to both Maryland | | | | abolished slavery in 1781, while Maryland was still a |
| and Pennsylvania. As a result, the two sides | | | | slave state. According to the compromise, the |
| argued over the boundary for several decades. | | | | states above the line would be free states, while |
| The biggest problem with this that under | | | | those below the line could be slave states. The |
| Maryland's claim, Philadelphia would actually be | | | | line surveyed by Mason and Dixon was extended |
| within Maryland, not Pennsylvania, and both sides | | | | west to the Mississippi River at this time. It also |
| wanted to lay claim to the town. | | | | forms parts of the boundaries of Delaware and |
| The compromise was finally drawn from 1763 to | | | | West Virginia. |
| 1765 by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, an | | | | In history, the name "Mason-Dixon line" symbolizes |
| astronomer and a surveyor, both from England. | | | | much more than a compromise between two |
| The compromise set the boundary between | | | | states on boundaries; it has become associated |
| southern Pennsylvania and northern Maryland at | | | | with the struggle between slave and free states |
| 15 miles south of Philadelphia, granting Philadelphia | | | | which would eventually be resolved only by the |
| to Pennsylvania. First, they precisely pinpointed the | | | | Civil War. Although the term Mason-Dixon line |
| area fifteen miles south of Philadelphia, erecting a | | | | originally referred to the boundary dispute |
| limestone benchmark at this point. Then, they | | | | compromise, by the mid-nineteenth century it |
| began surveying west of this point, which was | | | | came to symbolize to divide between slavery and |
| rugged land with many Native Americans living in | | | | discrimination, in the south, and freedom, in the |
| the region. Although they set out to survey 233 | | | | north. It can also be used to describe the |
| miles of land, but these hazards kept them from | | | | indefinable cultural boundary between north and |
| completing this goal. In 1767, the Mason-Dixon line | | | | south. |