The free soil party and the slavery issue in the USA in the middle of the 19th century

The article deals with the protest movement of the free soil supporters, who opposed the expansion of slavery into the western territories. In the middle of the 19 th century the issue of slavery in the USA rose to the fore in the political struggle. This period was connected with the factionalism and the impending collapse of the second American two-party system. The Free Soilers were the first major nationwide party, which claimed the status of the third force in the U.S. political system.