Final answer:
The term 'free soil' in regard to the Free Soil Party had two meanings: opposition to slavery extension into the territories and promotion of free labor in the West.
Step-by-step explanation:
In regard to the Free Soil Party, the term 'free soil' had two meanings:
- The first meaning referred to the party's opposition to the extension of slavery into the territories. They believed that southern slaveholders were using their wealth and power to control politics and extend slavery. The Free Soil Party aimed to stop this and ensure that the territories remained free of slavery.
- The second meaning of 'free soil' referred to the party's promotion of free labor. They wanted the territories to be free of both slaves and free blacks, in order to spread the concept of free labor to the West. Free labor meant that individuals, regardless of their race, deserved the right to their own labor.