Final answer:
Political issues during slavery included debates on abolition, representation, and fugitive slaves.
Step-by-step explanation:
During slavery, many political issues were at play. One of the major political debates was whether slavery should be abolished or allowed to continue. This led to the formation of political parties with differing views on slavery. For example, the Democratic Party in the United States was divided between northern Democrats who opposed slavery and southern Democrats who supported it. The Republican Party, on the other hand, was formed in part to oppose the expansion of slavery into newly acquired territories.
Another political issue related to slavery was the question of the rights and representation of enslaved individuals. Slaveholders argued for the preservation of their property rights and sought to maintain their political power by counting enslaved individuals as part of the population for the purposes of representation in government. This led to debates over how enslaved individuals should be counted in the Census and in determining the number of seats each state would have in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Additionally, the issue of fugitive slaves became a political matter. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 required that escaped slaves be returned to their owners, causing controversy and resistance in Northern states where abolitionist sentiments were strong. This led to political debates over states' rights and the power of the federal government in enforcing slavery-related laws.
Learn more about Political issues during slavery