I need help with what to put for my answer to this question, please don't link me to a site.

How did the Mexican-American war ignite a conflict over slavery between the North and the South?

" Soon after Texas won independence from Mexico in 1836, the state legalized slavery. Free blacks and mulattoes were forbidden from entering Texas, which had once been a safe haven for runaways. In the 1830s, as the westward push of white settlements and of slavery brought significant numbers of new settlers into the region, conflicts between whites and Mexicans, who had long occupied the land, increased. In Texas, authorities used the Texas Rangers to protect the large land and cattle operations established after statehood from insurgents like Juan Cortina, a wealthy Mexican-born rancher who became a symbol of militant resistance to Anglo racism. Authorities in Texas systematically disenfranchised Mexican Americans, and prevented them from serving in local government, while vigilantes, with broad support from the white communities, terrorized Mexican Americans in southern Texas, where they were most numerous. Statehood was delayed for New Mexico, primarily because of its Mexican American political leadership, however Mexican Americans remained the majority population until the end of the nineteenth century.

The war with Mexico also affected the political balance between pro- and anti-slavery states. If slavery was allowed in the newly acquired Mexican territory, slaveholding states would acquire greater representation in Congress. Even with a much smaller population, the South sent and suffered greater casualties in the Mexican War than the North, which had disapproved of the effort and sent less than half as many troops. Not surprisingly, southerners felt the Wilmot Proviso, a proposal by a Pennsylvanian legislator to ban slavery in all territory acquired as a result of the Mexican War, was unjust, since the South had risked more lives to win the Southwest."

From
http://www.understandingrace.org/history/gov/west_exp_post_mex.html

http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/amex25.socst.ush.mexwar/how-the-mexican-american-war-affected-slavery/

The answer has to come from your brain, not ours.

The Mexican-American War played a significant role in fueling the conflict over slavery between the North and the South in the United States. To answer this question, we can examine the historical context, events, and political ramifications of the war.

Here's a step-by-step breakdown of how to formulate your answer:

1. Understand the basic context: The Mexican-American War took place from 1846 to 1848, following the United States' annexation of Texas in 1845. The war was mainly fought over the disputed Texas-Mexico border and ended with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

2. Analyze the expansion of slavery: At the time, the United States was sharply divided over the issue of slavery. The expansion of slavery into western territories was a contentious topic, with pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions competing for influence.

3. Examine the acquisition of new territories: The Mexican-American War resulted in the vast territorial expansion of the United States, including the acquisition of present-day states like California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming. These new territories had to be addressed in terms of their stance on slavery.

4. Look at the political implications: The acquisition of new territories reignited the debate over slavery and raised questions about whether these areas should be admitted as free states or slave states. This debate further polarized the North and South.

5. Consider the Wilmot Proviso: During the war, Representative David Wilmot proposed a law known as the Wilmot Proviso, which aimed to ban slavery in any territory acquired from Mexico. This proposal heightened tensions between the North and the South, as it challenged the delicate balance between free and slave states.

6. See the impact on political parties: The debate over slavery in the newly acquired territories contributed to the fragmentation and realignment of political parties. The Whig Party, already divided on the issue, disintegrated, while the newly formed Republican Party emerged as a major anti-slavery force in the North.

7. Summarize the overall effect: In conclusion, the Mexican-American War brought about territorial gains for the United States, which intensified the already contentious issue of slavery. The struggle over whether these territories would permit or prohibit slavery deepened the divide between the Northern states, pushing for abolition, and the Southern states, determined to protect their economic and social reliance on slavery.

By following these steps, you should be able to craft a well-rounded answer that explains how the Mexican-American War ignited a conflict over slavery between the North and the South, without the need for external sources.