Why were southerners upset about california’s application to join the union?

check all that apply.

1. californians approved a constitution that banned slavery.

2. california tried to convince slaveholders to move to the west coast.

3. free states would gain a majority over slave states in the senate.

4. californians zachary taylor win the presidency.

5. other western territories might follow california’s example of entering as a free state.

1. Californians approved a constitution that banned slavery.

California was started as groups of settlements that had a largely pro-freedom base, as many of the people who have moved to the west were from the North who brought their beliefs with them. The Californians, because of this, were able to not only approve a constitution that banned slavery, but also join the Union as a free state.

3. Free states would gain a majority over slave states in the Senate.

Because the slave states were keen at getting even with the more populous Northern states inside the government, they wanted a even playing field inside the Senate (as the North had more populations, which meant more representatives). With California joining the Union, it would have gave the Free States much more power in the government then the Slave States.

5. Other western territories might follow California’s example of entering as a free state.

Remember, the South were in a great disadvantage, and so they wanted to keep the balance of state powers in between both the Free States & Slave States. However, with the admission of the Californias to the Free States, it offset the balance within the government, leading to a larger pro-freedom government, and overriding the beliefs of the South.

~

a case involving the laws of a single state.