In the 1848 election why were wigs and Democrats forced to take a stand on slavery?

Answer 1

The slavery-related issue in 1848 had to do with westward expansion. The United States had just acquired a huge part of Mexico as a result of the Mexican-American War. That land would eventually be divided into territories, and the territories would eventually be granted statehood. Most people were concerned about whether they would become slave states or free states.

Answer 2

In the 1848 election, the Whigs and Democrats were forced to take a stand on slavery because the issue of the expansion of slavery into new territories was becoming increasingly contentious. The Mexican-American war had recently ended, and there was a disagreement over whether slavery should be allowed in the newly acquired territory. This forced both parties to address the issue of slavery in their platforms and appeal to the different factions within their parties.