As part of the Compromise of 1850, __________ was admitted as a free state.Group of answer choicesOregonCaliforniaMaineNew Mexico

The correct answer is California.

The Compromise of 1850 was a series of laws passed in an effort to settle disputes between slave and free states following the Mexican-American War. One of the critical components of this compromise was the admission of California to the Union as a free state. This was significant because it helped to maintain a balance between free and slave states at that time.

California's admission was coupled with other provisions, such as the Fugitive Slave Act, which increased tensions between the North and South. The decision to make California a free state was largely influenced by the California Gold Rush, which led to rapid population growth and a demand for statehood. Thus, California's admission played a pivotal role in shaping the political landscape of the United States during the lead-up to the Civil War.