In the 1800s, the us government wanted to keep the number of free states and slave states equal in order to
a. prevent one region from becoming more economically unstable than another.

b. maintain a balance in congress between representatives who supported slavery and those who opposed it.

c. make it less likely that enslaved workers would attempt to escape from a slave state.

d. provide settlers in territories such as kansas and nebraska the right to vote on slavery for themselves.

The correct answer is B. In the 1800s, the US government wanted to keep the number of free states and slave states equal in order to maintain a balance in Congress between representatives who supported slavery and those who opposed it.

This was done to avoid a previous imbalance in the Congress between both ideologies, which would put one with superiority over the other when it comes to voting laws in Congress.

For example, before the admission of Missouri (slave) as a state, it was also introduced to Maine (free), in order to maintain the mentioned balance.

they gained popular support by speaking out against communists

in the united states. ( d.)