Question

The acquisition of the Mexican Cession most directly fostered sectional division through the

a. renewed debate over the expansion of slavery
b. rise of anti-immigrant sentiment
c. extension of trade westward toward Asia
d. decline of the Democratic Party

Answer 1

The Mexican Cession heightened sectional division due to the a. renewed debate over the expansion of slavery, which was a key factor contributing to the American Civil War.

Step-by-step explanation:

The acquisition of the Mexican Cession most directly fostered sectional division through the renewed debate over the expansion of slavery. After the U.S. victory over Mexico and the approval of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, new territories such as California and New Mexico were acquired, which led to immediate disputes between the North and South over whether these territories should permit slavery. Southern interests argued for the expansion of slavery into new territories for economic and political reasons, while Northerners, motivated partly by economic self-interest to protect white labor, opposed it. This conflict was further exacerbated by the Compromise of 1850, which attempted to resolve the issue but only managed to provide a temporary lull in the rising tensions. The situation ultimately contributed to the break-up of national political unity and set the stage for the American Civil War.