Advanced Placement US History (AP US History) Practice Exam

Which state was admitted as a free state under the Compromise of 1850?

1. Texas

2. California

3. Oregon

4. New Mexico

The correct answer is: California

California was admitted as a free state under the Compromise of 1850, which aimed to address the contentious issue of slavery in newly acquired territories following the Mexican-American War. The Compromise allowed California to enter the Union without slavery, which was significant as it balanced the number of free and slave states while attempting to quell rising sectional tensions. The other states listed either joined the Union under different conditions or were already admitted before the Compromise. Texas entered as a slave state, Oregon was admitted as a free state earlier in 1859, and New Mexico's status was left ambiguous, with no immediate decision made regarding its admission as either free or slave. Thus, the focus on California's admission highlights the complexities of balancing free and slave states during a pivotal moment in American history.