What was the South’s greatest concern when California applied for statehood?

The main concern would be that California entered as a free state, messing with the balance of slave and free states in the U.S Senate.
The House was free-leaning, as more people lived in the north than the south, but as every state sent only 2 representatives to the U.S Senate, the south was keen on keeping the balance there.

Answered by Tails | 2024-06-10

ill say that the california outlawed slavery. Southern states didn't want California to be admitted to the union as a free state because it would upset the balance of free states to slave states. This was compromised Later in 1850.

Answered by Beae | 2024-06-10

The South was primarily concerned that California would enter the Union as a free state, upsetting the balance between slave and free states in the Senate. This balance was crucial for maintaining political power, as the entry of California could inspire other territories to follow suit, threatening Southern interests. The Compromise of 1850 addressed some of these concerns by admitting California as a free state while attempting to appease the South with other provisions.
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Answered by Tails | 2025-02-02