To balance Missouri’s admission as a slave state, __________ was admitted as a free state.Group of answer choicesCaliforniaKansasMaineNew Mexico

To address the question regarding Missouri’s admission as a slave state and the subsequent balance achieved in the Union, it's essential to examine the historical context. Missouri was admitted as a slave state in 1821, and to maintain the balance of power between free and slave states in the Senate, Maine was admitted as a free state at the same time. This was a result of the Missouri Compromise, which was an effort to settle the contentious issue of slavery's expansion into new territories and states.

Among the options provided:

1. California - Admitted as a free state in 1850.
2. Kansas - Became a state in 1861, with a period of conflict over slavery known as "Bleeding Kansas."
3. Maine - Admitted as a free state simultaneously with Missouri's admission as a slave state in 1821.
4. New Mexico - Became a territory in 1850 and was not directly involved in the Missouri Compromise.

Final Answer

Maine was admitted as a free state to balance Missouri’s admission as a slave state.