Question

What was the South’s greatest concern when California applied for statehood?

Answer 1

ill say that the california outlawed slavery. Southern states didn't want California to be admitted to the union as a free state because it would upset the balance of free states to slave states. This was compromised Later in 1850.

Answer 2

The main concern would be that California entered as a free state, messing with the balance of slave and free states in the U.S Senate.

The House was free-leaning, as more people lived in the north than the south, but as every state sent only 2 representatives to the U.S Senate, the south was keen on keeping the balance there.