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Difficulty: MediumMexican-American War and Sectional Tension

"Resolved, That the present war with Mexico has its primary origin in the unconstitutional annexation of Texas... that it was unconstitutionally commenced by the order of the President... for the purpose of dismembering Mexico, and of extending slavery..."
— Massachusetts State Legislature, Resolutions on the War with Mexico, 1847

Based on the excerpt, which of the following best explains how the Mexican-American War increased sectional tensions in the United States?

  1. A
    It established the principle of popular sovereignty, which granted the President the direct authority to determine the status of slavery in new territories.
  2. B
    It shifted the primary cause of sectional conflict from the status of slavery to disputes over federal tariff rates.
  3. It forced Congress to confront the question of whether slavery would be permitted in any territories acquired as a result of the war.Answer
  4. D
    It led the United States to sign a defensive military alliance with Great Britain to prevent European intervention in the West.

Answer

It forced Congress to confront the question of whether slavery would be permitted in any territories acquired as a result of the war.
The correct answer is correct because the acquisition of land through the Mexican Cession immediately forced Congress to address the legal status of slavery in the new territories. This debate disrupted the existing sectional balance in Congress and led directly to major legislative conflicts, such as the Wilmot Proviso and the Compromise of 1850.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus.
The 1847 Massachusetts resolution opposes the war with Mexico, arguing that its primary purpose is the extension of slavery.
Understanding the source's main argument is necessary to connect it to broader historical developments.
2
Connect the stimulus to the historical context of the Mexican-American War.
The war resulted in the Mexican Cession, transferring vast territories in the Southwest to the United States.
Identifying the territorial outcome of the war explains why the issue of slavery's expansion became an immediate political crisis.
3
Identify the political consequence that matches the sectional tension over slavery.
The acquisition of these territories forced Congress to debate whether slavery would be allowed there, leading to proposals like the Wilmot Proviso and the Compromise of 1850.
This directly supports the Massachusetts legislature's concern about the war extending slavery and explains the rise in sectional tension.

Key Concept

The connection between territorial expansion from the Mexican-American War and the escalation of sectional conflict over slavery.
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Mexican-American War and Sectional Tension

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