Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumPolitical Realignment and the Election of 1860

"The Republican party, then, is a party of progress, but not of radical destruction. It does not propose to abolish slavery where it exists, for it respects the constitutional rights of the States. But it does propose to prevent the further expansion of slavery into the Territories, because it believes that the expansion of slavery is a crime against humanity and a danger to the Union. In this, the Republican party represents the true national sentiment, while the pro-slavery faction of the Democratic party seeks to sectionalize the government for the benefit of a single class."

— Carl Schurz, Republican politician, speech in St. Louis, Missouri, August 1860

Based on the excerpt, which of the following best explains the political strategy of the Republican Party regarding slavery during the election of 1860?

  1. A
    By advocating for the immediate and complete abolition of slavery in all states and territories.
  2. B
    By championing popular sovereignty to allow territorial settlers to vote on whether to permit slavery.
  3. By proposing to restrict the expansion of slavery into federal territories while promising not to interfere with the institution where it already existed.Answer
  4. D
    By focusing exclusively on economic issues such as protective tariffs and transcontinental railroads while refusing to take a stance on slavery.

Answer

By proposing to restrict the expansion of slavery into federal territories while promising not to interfere with the institution where it already existed.
The correct answer describes the moderate "free-soil" platform of the Republican Party in 1860. The party sought to reassure the South that it would not interfere with the institution of slavery within existing states, thereby upholding constitutional protections, while firmly declaring that federal territories must remain free from slavery.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus document and its author.
The excerpt is from a speech by Carl Schurz, a prominent Republican, in August 1860, outlining the party's official stance on slavery just before the critical presidential election.
Understanding the context and perspective of the speaker helps identify the specific political goals of the Republican Party at this time.
2
Identify the core arguments presented in the text.
Schurz explicitly states that the party does not propose to abolish slavery where it already exists, but it firmly opposes the expansion of slavery into the territories.
This direct textual evidence clarifies the moderate Free-Soil platform of the Republicans as opposed to the radical abolitionist stance.
3
Evaluate the options to find the statement that matches this political position.
The platform of halting territorial expansion while leaving slavery intact in existing Southern states matches the Republican coalition's compromise strategy to win the presidency.
This strategy allowed the party to appeal to a broad northern electorate without alienating constitutional moderates.

Key Concept

Republican Party platform and the containment of slavery in the 1860 election
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Rate this question

Topics

Political Realignment and the Election of 1860

More questions from this topic