Which political party was formed in 1848 opposing the spread of slavery into new territories?

The Free Soil Party was established in 1848 primarily to oppose the expansion of slavery into the newly acquired territories of the United States. This party emerged during a critical time when the nation grappled with the implications of westward expansion and the status of slavery in these areas. The Free Soil Party promoted the idea that free men on free soil constituted a morally and economically superior system to slavery and sought to prevent the extension of slavery into new territories.

The formation of the Free Soil Party represented a significant political shift as it united diverse groups that were concerned about the implications of slavery, including former Democrats and members of the Whig Party. Its slogan, "Free Soil, Free Speech, Free Labor, and Free Men," encapsulated its commitment to the principles of freedom and opposition to slavery's expansion.

In contrast, other political parties of that time had different focuses. The Democratic Party and the Whig Party had more complex views on slavery, with members who held both pro-slavery and anti-slavery sentiments, which often led to internal conflicts. The Liberty Party, formed earlier in the 1840s, focused primarily on abolition and was less influential in the broader political landscape compared to the Free Soil Party, which had a more significant impact on shaping the