Were the states that border the pacific ocean free states or slave states?

Answer 1

Free soil.

It was the admission of California as a free state that made it necessary to appease the South with the Fugitive Slave Act, which promptly heightened abolitionist sentiment in the North.

Answer 2

They were free states (though Washington was not admitted until 24 years after the war ended and slavery abolished). Oregon, like Illinois, had a "whites only" clause in its original constitution intended to keep out all blacks, free or slave, and was founded as a haven for those fleeing disputes over slavery. California was admitted as a free state as part of the Compromise of 1850. Before compromising pro-slavery southern leaders had wanted southern California - that portion below the line of 36 degrees thirty minutes latitude - admitted as a separate slave state. This was the line created in the Missouri Compromise of 1820, the dividing line between permissible slave territory and free territory. During the Civil War both sides claimed New Mexico, and there was a military campaign there in 1862, resulting in the defeat of the Confederate force at the Battle of Glorieta Pass. The Confederates continued to claim the territory though and had a territorial government, which had to operate out of Texas. There were 8000 troops in the Union Army from New Mexico.

Answer 3

These states were free.