Final answer:
The 1860 Republican platform stated that the Party was opposed to the expansion of slavery, and it also supported the construction of a transcontinental railroad and the provision of free homesteads in the West. Hence, the correct answer is E. all of the above.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 1860 Republican platform included several key positions: B. the Party was opposed to the expansion of slavery, C. the government ought to aid in the construction of a transcontinental railroad, and D. the government ought to give free homesteads in the West. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is E. all of the above.
Based on historical records, the Republican Party in the 1860s stood firmly against the southward and westward expansion of slavery, which was primarily outlined in their opposition to the Dred Scott decision. Additionally, their platform sought to promote economic development and settlement in the West through the support of a transcontinental railroad and the provision of free homesteads to settlers. This broad-based strategy aimed to attract a diverse group of northern voters to aid in the prevention of the spread of slavery and to bolster the party's economic vision for the country.
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