Final answer:
Martin Van Buren sought to minimize sectional tensions and maintain party unity by emphasizing states' rights concerning slavery and tabling, without discussion, any antislavery petitions in Congress. He contributed to the formation of the Democratic Party and presented financial policy proposals, including the Independent Treasury System.
Step-by-step explanation:
Martin Van Buren's solution to growing opposition to John Quincy Adams and the emergence of sectionalism in politics was deeply tied with the issues surrounding the controversial concept of slavery.
Van Buren, along with Andrew Jackson and their party followers, worked to diffuse the slavery question, particularly with increasing antislavery sentiments in the 1830s. Democrats, motivated by the desire to attract southern supporters, emphasized the idea that states had the right to choose whether to allow or abolish slavery.
Avoiding a direct confrontation with the issue, Van Buren proposed a way to handle antislavery petitions in Congress. He suggested that Congress accept these petitions but table them without discussion, avoiding the impingement of free speech while also placating southern legislators.
At the same time, Martin Van Buren was instrumental in the formation of the Democratic Party, promoting Jeffersonian principles of strict government construction and adapting to a growing public opinion that emerged with broader voting rights among white men.
Additionally, Van Buren and the Democratic Party avoided taking a strong stand against the extension of slavery, leading to measures like interference with the delivery of antislavery tracts and the implementation of the 'gag rule' in Congress.
During his presidency, Van Buren also faced challenges with the country's financial system, where he presented proposals such as the Independent Treasury System, which after significant opposition, finally gained approval in 1840. This approach aimed to separate the government's fiscal operations from private banking systems and was a pivotal issue in Van Buren's presidency and political career.