WEST-E Social Studies Practice Test

Which political party developed before the Civil War and was primarily concerned with issues like slavery?

1. Democrats

2. Socialists

3. Whigs

4. Republicans

The correct answer is: Whigs

The party that developed before the Civil War and was primarily concerned with issues like slavery is the Republican Party. Founded in the 1850s, the Republican Party emerged from a coalition of anti-slavery Whigs, Free Soilers, and abolitionists who opposed the expansion of slavery into the western territories. This party quickly became the principal platform for those who sought to limit the spread of slavery and ultimately aimed for its complete abolition. The Republican Party's rise was significant during a time of national division over slavery, and it played a crucial role in the political landscape leading up to the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln, who was the first Republican president, campaigned on a platform that opposed the extension of slavery, which further solidified the party's position as the main political force against slavery in that era. In contrast, the other parties mentioned either did not focus primarily on the issue of slavery or were more established before this specific focus emerged. The Democrats, for example, had differing factions on slavery during this time. The Whig Party initially included both pro-slavery and anti-slavery members but ultimately fractured over the issue, leading to the rise of the Republicans. The Socialist Party, on the other hand, did not come into prominence until