Final answer:
'Bleeding Kansas' was centered around the issue of slavery expansion in the Kansas Territory and reflected the growing sectional divide as violent conflict arose between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions. This mirrored the national tension that would eventually lead to the Civil War, with the Republican Party's anti-slavery stance gaining support in the North.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Issue at Stake in 'Bleeding Kansas'
The principal issue at stake in 'Bleeding Kansas' was C) Slavery expansion. This conflict emerged over the question of whether Kansas should enter the Union as a free or slave state. The term 'Bleeding Kansas' refers to the violent confrontations in the Kansas Territory between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions from 1854 to 1859, principally over this issue. It became a symbol of the growing sectional tensions between the North and the South. The events in Kansas mirrored the growing divide as they exemplified how fiercely contested the issue of slavery was, to the point where it precipitated violent clashes. These incidents contributed to the rising distrust and animosity which eventually led to the Civil War.
The sectional division between the North and South was intensified by several factors, including the Fugitive Slave Act, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and the Dred Scott decision, paving the way for the Republican Party's dominance in the North. The Republican Party emerged with a platform opposing the expansion of slavery, further crystallizing the divisions. 'Bleeding Kansas,' alongside the vicious attack on Senator Charles Sumner by Representative Preston Brooks known as 'Bleeding Sumner,' signaled the severity of the sectional conflict and showed that debates over slavery had reached a boiling point, contributing to the polarization of the country