The request to enter the union as a free state would have caused the north to breathe a sigh of relief because it would have helped to maintain the balance between free and slave states. If California had been admitted as a slave state, it would have given the South a majority in the Senate, and this could have led to the passage of laws that would have protected the institution of slavery. By requesting to enter the union as a free state, California helped to prevent this from happening, and this was seen as a positive development by the North.