Changes

==Threat to republicanism==

==Threat to republicanism==

The problem posed by slavery, it was argued by opponents of the Slave Power was not so much the mistreatment of slaves (a theme that abolitionists emphasized), but rather the political threat to American [[Republicanism]], and more generally to American standards of liberty.  The [[Free Soil Party]] first raised this warning in 1848, arguing that the annexation of Texas as a slave state was a terrible mistake.  Their strong rhetoric became a central theme in the new anti-slavery [[U.S. Republican Party, history|Republican party]], especially in the election of 1856.  

The problem posed by slavery, it was argued by opponents of the Slave Power was not so much the mistreatment of slaves (a theme that abolitionists emphasized), but rather the political threat to American [[Republicanism]], and more generally to American standards of liberty.  The [[Free Soil Party]] first raised this warning in 1848, arguing that the annexation of Texas as a slave state was a terrible mistake.  Their strong rhetoric became a central theme in the new anti-slavery [[Republican party]], especially in the election of 1856.  

The Republican argument was that slavery was economically inefficient, compared to free labor, and was a deterrent to the long-term modernization of America.  Worse, said the Republicans, the Slave Power was systematically seizing control of the White House, the Congress, and the Supreme Court. Senator and governor [[Salmon P. Chase]] of Ohio was an articulate enemy of the Slave Power, as was Senator [[Charles Sumner]] of Massachusetts and Republican party leader [[Abraham Lincoln]] of Illinois.  The Southerns replied that they were  committed to democracy and republicanism, and that assaults on their "peculiar institution" (slavery) was an illegitimate effort to make them second class citizens.  By 1850 they talked of secession.

The Republican argument was that slavery was economically inefficient, compared to free labor, and was a deterrent to the long-term modernization of America.  Worse, said the Republicans, the Slave Power was systematically seizing control of the White House, the Congress, and the Supreme Court. Senator and governor [[Salmon P. Chase]] of Ohio was an articulate enemy of the Slave Power, as was Senator [[Charles Sumner]] of Massachusetts and Republican party leader [[Abraham Lincoln]] of Illinois.  The Southerns replied that they were  committed to democracy and republicanism, and that assaults on their "peculiar institution" (slavery) was an illegitimate effort to make them second class citizens.  By 1850 they talked of secession.