Which situation was affected depending on whether a state was admitted as a free state or a slave state?
A. representation in Congress
B. number of Supreme Court justices
C. amount of Western land available for settlement
D. existing treaties with Native American tribes
The situation that was affected depending on whether a state was admitted as a free state or a slave state is A. representation in Congress.
To understand why this situation was affected, we need to consider the historical context of the United States during the period leading up to the Civil War. At that time, there was a growing divide between the Northern states, where slavery was largely abolished, and the Southern states, where slavery was still a prominent institution.
The admission of new states into the Union became a contentious issue because it could potentially shift the balance of power in Congress. Each state is represented by a certain number of members in the House of Representatives, which is determined by its population, and by two Senators. The admission of new states as either free or slave states would impact the number of representatives and senators that each side of the slavery debate would have in Congress.
Slave states fought to have new states admitted as slave states in order to preserve and expand their political power. By adding more slave states, they would gain more representatives in the House of Representatives, as well as additional senators in the Senate. This would give them more votes and influence in Congress, allowing them to shape legislation and policies in favor of preserving slavery.
On the other hand, free states wanted new states to be admitted as free states in order to counterbalance the political power of the slave states. Admitting more free states would increase the number of representatives and senators who were opposed to slavery, potentially leading to anti-slavery legislation and policies.
So, the admission of new states as either free or slave states directly impacted the representation of each side in Congress, and therefore had a significant impact on the political and legislative landscape of the United States during this time.
In conclusion, the answer is A. representation in Congress.