The correct answer is A) The desire of antislavery forces to gain a new state for their cause.
The quick formation of an effective government in California was essential because of the desire of antislavery forces to gain a new state for their cause.
We are talking about the moment in history when California was accepted as part of the Union after the United States acquired a big portion of the former Mexican territory after winning the Mexican-American War
The admission of California as a free state threatened to upset the balance of power and violate the Missouri compromise.
In a time where northerners and southerners fought for power and control, California was admitted to the Union as a free state on September 9, 1850. More differences were generated between both sides regarding slavery. Let's not forget that the Missouri Compromise of 1820, had created legislation that admitted Missouri as a slave state but also admitted Main as a free state, in order to balance powers.
