What Did the Free Soilers Oppose? Why? Free Soilers’ Platform Impact of the Free Soil Party
The Free Soil Party was a political party that existed in the United States from 1848 to 1860. The party was founded by anti-slavery activists who opposed the expansion of slavery into new territories. The Free Soilers believed that slavery was a moral evil and that it should be abolished.
The Free Soilers opposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, which allowed slavery to be extended into new territories. The party also opposed the Dred Scott decision of 1857, which ruled that African Americans were not citizens of the United States and could not sue in federal court.
The Free Soilers were a small party, but they played a significant role in the growing anti-slavery movement. The party’s opposition to slavery helped to raise awareness of the issue and to build support for the Republican Party, which was founded in 1854.
Reasons for Opposition
The Free Soilers opposed slavery on both moral and economic grounds. The party’s members believed that slavery was a moral evil that violated the principles of human equality and freedom. They also argued that slavery was an economic detriment to the nation, as it stifled economic growth and created a divided society.
The Free Soilers opposed the expansion of slavery into new territories because they believed that it would strengthen the institution of slavery and make it more difficult to abol
The Free Soil Party platform contained the following key planks:
- Opposition to the expansion of slavery into new territories
- Support for the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia
- Support for the admission of California as a free state
- Opposition to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850
- Support for the homesteading of land in the West
The Free Soil Party’s platform was popular among anti-slavery activists, but it was opposed by many southerners who supported slavery.
The Free Soilers in the Election of 1852
The Free Soil Party nominated John P. Hale for president and George W. Julian for vice president in the election of 1852. The party ran on a platform that called for the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, the admission of California as a free state, and the prohibition of slavery in any new territories acquired by the United States.
The Free Soil Party received 156,000 votes in the election of 1852, which was about 4.9% of the total vote. The party did not win any electoral votes, but its strong showing helped to raise awareness of the anti-slavery movement.
The Free Soilers and the Republican Party
The Free Soil Party merged with the Republican Party in 1856. The Republican Party was a new party that was formed to oppose the expansion of slavery into new territories. The Free Soilers joined the Republican Party because they shared the party’s anti-slavery platform.
The Republican Party went on to win the election of 1860, and Abraham Lincoln became president. Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, which freed all slaves in the United States. The Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which abolished slavery, was ratified in 1865.
The Free Soil Party played a significant role in the growing anti-slavery movement. The party’s opposition to slavery helped to raise awareness of the issue and to build support for the Republican Party, which eventually led to the abolition of slavery in the United States.
The Free Soil Party had a significant impact on the course of American history. The party’s opposition to slavery helped to raise awareness of the issue and to build support for the Republican Party, which eventually led to the abolition of slavery in the United States.
The Free Soil Party also helped to shape the political landscape of the United States. The party’s anti-slavery stance alienated many southerners, who felt that the party was threatening their way of life. This alienation contributed to the growing sectional tensions that led to the Civil War.
The Free Soil Party was a small party, but it played a significant role in the growing anti-slavery movement. The party’s opposition to slavery helped to raise awareness of the issue and to build support for the Republican Party, which eventually led to the abolition of slavery in the United States.
