In 1808 Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emmancipation Proclomation which prohibited the trading of slaves. Twelve years later, Missouri requested admission to the union as a "slave state" (a state in which slavery was not abolished). At this time, the Senate majority was anti-slave states although admission of a slave state would shift the power to the south.

The Missouri Compromise was composed and adopted in 1820 to admit Missouri as a slave state, but prohibited slavery above 36 degrees latitude. In an effort to maintain the power balance in the Senate, Massachusetts was split to create a new state that would be above that 36 degree line.

Maine's official flag was adopted in 1909. The flag has a deep blue field with the state coat of arms in the center. The coat of arms pictures a farmer and a seaman which is intended to represent the agricultural and maritime industries. A shield is between them, upon which is a pine tree, a moose, and a landscape scene with grass, sky and water. Above the shield is a yellow star representing Maine which was the northernmost state upon it's admission. A red ribbon is across the base of the star that reads, "DIRIGO," which means "I direct" in Latin. Below the shield ia a large blue ribbon that says, "MAINE."