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The war began in 1846 between the US and Mexico mainly because of the annexation of Texas. The war became a turning point as the US became a transcontinental power. New gained territories caused the US to discus how slavery would spread across the country. The US invading Mexico also revisited the debate about slavery laws out West. These factors made this war a good starting point for the road to Civil War, causing so much discussion and conflict surrounding slavery.(Real Time History, 2025)
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Democrats claimed the party was just an upbringing of old federalism and abolitionism. Free-Soilers saw the Constitution as antislavery and rejected the disunion. They were focusing on stopping the expansion of slavery, not bringing an immediate abolition. They did not promote full racial equality but they strongly opposed slavery because of their morals. (Varon, 201-205)
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The set of 5 laws was signed after being proposed in January, 1850. The compromise solved the issue of California wanting to become a state. The US had to maintain the balance between the amount of free/slave states. Fugitive Slave Law was revisited, causing extra conflict. The country also introduced popular sovereignty to ease the slavery tensions after California became a free state.The bill was supposed to keep the Union together, but ended up increasing political tensions.(McPherson 70-71)