Question

Which statement best compares the responses of Northerners and Southerners to the Compromise of 1850?
A. Southerners would be opposed to the admission of California because it would upset the balance of free states and slave states in Congress, while Northerners would support the admission of California because it would create more free states.
B. Southerners would support the admission of California because it would ban the trading of enslaved people, while Northerners would be opposed to the admission of California because it would allow slavery.
C. Southerners would support the admission of California because it would be open to popular sovereignty, while Northerners would oppose the admission of California because it would be open to popular sovereignty.
D. Southerners would not support the admission of California because it would support popular sovereignty in the New Mexico and Utah territories, while Northerners would support the admission of California because it would permit popular sovereignty in the New Mexico and Utah territories.

Answer 1

A.

Explanation: The Compromise admitted California as a free state (favored by Northerners because it increased free-state power in Congress). Southerners opposed California’s admission because it upset the balance between free and slave states in the Senate.