Final answer:
California was not heavily populated in 1848, but the discovery of gold led to a rapid increase in population. It does have natural harbors and was admitted into the Union as a free state.
Step-by-step explanation:
California was not full of heavily populated cities in 1848. It was a sparsely populated territory at the time. However, following the discovery of gold in 1848 during the Gold Rush, the population increased rapidly, and cities like San Francisco and Sacramento grew quickly.
In 1845, California was not yet known to have gold deposits. It was only after James W. Marshall's discovery at Sutter's Mill in 1848 that the gold rush began.
California does have natural harbors, such as the Golden Gate in San Francisco. These natural features were important for trade and the development of coastal cities.
California was admitted into the Union as a free state in 1850 as part of the Compromise of 1850, which aimed to maintain the balance between free and slave states.
Learn more about California's population, gold Rush, natural harbors, statehood