Texes Social Studies Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Test Prep Guide

The primary political issue raised from the new U.S. territory acquired from Mexico was the open status of new territories to slavery. Following the Mexican-American War, the acquisition of vast territories raised significant debates about whether these states would enter the Union as free states or slave states. This contentious issue led to intense political conflicts, including the Missouri Compromise and tensions surrounding the California Gold Rush, where the question of slavery's expansion became a focal point of national debate. Ultimately, this struggle over the extension of slavery into the newly acquired territories was a significant factor that contributed to the polarization of the nation, leading up to the Civil War. The other considerations, while relevant in their own rights, did not capture the central issue that drove political debate during this period.