For the period between 1844 and the Civil War, evaluate the impact of slavery as apolitical issue on the history of any THREE of the political parties: Democratic Party, Free Soil Party, Know-Nothings, Republican Party, Whig Party

 

The Whigs were a party opposed to the Democrats (see below) and active during this period. They did not take a strong stance either way on slavery, but Northern Whigs were more anti-slavery than southern Whigs. They wanted to overall take a neutral stance on slavery so as not to offend or repel many potential voters.

The Democrats were the party of Andrew Jackson, and were way more into slavery than the Whigs. This party was opposed to the abolition of slavery (hence pro-slavery) and also was very active in the South, especially. This party was the party of the "common man" and very much was into slavery as a political ideology. This party was very conservative in nature and scope.

The Free Soil Party was a party that was anti-slavery and they actually introduced the Wilmot Proviso, introduced by Rep. Wilmot. This called for the abolition of slavery in the new, southwest lands we had acquired from Mexico - lands that were growing so fast. The Free Soil was a short-lived party that was absorbed in 1854 as a part of the Republican party that was very anti-slavery in the entire country. They, hence, evolved into this new Republican party.