Complex sentence: In 1843, a group of St. Louis city residents petitioned the state legislature to separate the two entities; however, the General Assembly only passed a resolution calling for a referendum on the subject among county voters outside the city.
Split into simpler sentences: In 1843, a group of St. Louis city residents petitioned the state legislature to separate the two entities. The General Assembly passed a resolution calling for a referendum on the subject among county voters outside the city.