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Difficulty: EasyPolitical Realignment and the Election of 1860

"Resolved, That it is both the part of patriotism and of duty to recognize no political principle other than the Constitution of the Country, the Union of the States, and the Enforcement of the Laws; and that, as their representatives, we here pledge ourselves... to maintain, defend, and uphold the same, against all enemies, at home and abroad..."

— Constitutional Union Party Platform, May 1860

The platform excerpted above was created by a political party that sought to address which of the following issues?

  1. The deepening sectional divisions over the expansion of slaveryAnswer
  2. B
    The federal government's decision to directly outlaw slavery in all western territories
  3. C
    A major dispute over federal tariff policies that threatened to destroy the national economy
  4. D
    The Supreme Court's ruling to weaken federal authority over interstate commerce

Answer

The deepening sectional divisions over the expansion of slavery
The correct answer is correct because the Constitutional Union Party was formed in 1860 specifically as a coalition of former Whigs and Know-Nothings who sought to preserve the Union by ignoring the highly divisive issue of slavery's expansion, which had split the Democratic Party and led to the rise of the Republican Party.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus document, identifying the author (Constitutional Union Party Platform, May 1860) and its central theme (appealing to the Constitution, the Union, and the enforcement of laws to maintain national peace).
The document shows a political effort to avoid taking a stand on specific sectional controversies by rallying around the Union and the Constitution.
Understanding the context of the Election of 1860 helps identify the purpose of this political platform.
2
Identify the primary cause of the political crisis and party realignment in the 1850s and 1860.
The main issue dividing the nation and fracturing existing political parties was the expansion of slavery into new western territories.
This links the formation of a compromise-oriented party directly to the central conflict of the era.
3
Evaluate the options to find the development that matches this central conflict.
The deepening sectional divisions over the expansion of slavery matches the historical context, while other options refer to incorrect historical developments or minor issues.
This confirms the correct option.

Key Concept

Political Realignment and the Election of 1860
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Topics

Political Realignment and the Election of 1860

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