What was the Republican Party's plan for slavery leading up to the election of 1860?
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Understand the Problem
The question asks about the Republican Party's stance on slavery in the lead-up to the 1860 election. This requires understanding the political context of the time and the Republican Party's platform on this contentious issue.
Answer
The Republican Party opposed the expansion of slavery into new territories.
The Republican Party opposed the expansion of slavery into the territories. While they didn't intend to abolish slavery where it already existed, they aimed to prevent its spread, a position made clear by Lincoln during his debates in 1858.
Answer for screen readers
The Republican Party opposed the expansion of slavery into the territories. While they didn't intend to abolish slavery where it already existed, they aimed to prevent its spread, a position made clear by Lincoln during his debates in 1858.
More Information
The Republican Party's stance against the expansion of slavery was a key factor in the lead-up to the Civil War. Southern states feared that preventing the spread of slavery would ultimately lead to its extinction.
Tips
A common mistake is to assume the Republican Party platform was to abolish slavery completely. The Republican Party platform was to prevent the expansion of slavery into the territories.
Sources
- Republican Party Platform of 1860 | The American Presidency Project - presidency.ucsb.edu
- Republican Party Platform (1860) - Teaching American History - teachingamericanhistory.org
- John Brown and the Election of 1860 | US History I (OS Collection) - courses.lumenlearning.com
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