Can you help me with this?
Southern enslavers were opposed to the Wilmot Proviso because they hoped _____.
Select the best answer from the choices provided.
A.
to have the ability to expand their holdings westward
B.
California ultimately would become a slave state
C.
Abraham Lincoln would be elected
D.
South Carolina would secede from the Union
California would ultimately become a slave state
To figure out the answer to this question, we need to understand the context and historical background. The Wilmot Proviso was a proposed law in the United States during the mid-1800s that aimed to ban slavery in any territory acquired from Mexico as a result of the Mexican-American War.
Knowing this, we can now evaluate the options:
A. To have the ability to expand their holdings westward: This answer aligns with the concerns of Southern enslavers. They wanted to expand their slaveholding territories into the newly acquired western lands, and the Wilmot Proviso threatened their ability to do so. Therefore, this is a likely answer.
B. California ultimately would become a slave state: Although this is a possible outcome that Southern enslavers might have desired, it is not specifically related to their opposition to the Wilmot Proviso. The Wilmot Proviso dealt with territories acquired from Mexico, not specifically with California. Therefore, this answer is not as directly related to the question.
C. Abraham Lincoln would be elected: The opposition to the Wilmot Proviso predates the election of Abraham Lincoln, as it was proposed in 1846-1847. While there were concerns among Southern enslavers about the future of slavery, the focus here is on their opposition to the Wilmot Proviso and its implications on territories acquired from Mexico. Therefore, this answer is less relevant to the question.
D. South Carolina would secede from the Union: This answer is not directly related to the Wilmot Proviso either. The issue of secession emerged later in the 1860s and was driven by multiple factors, including disagreements over states' rights and the expansion of slavery into new territories. However, the Wilmot Proviso itself was not the primary cause of secession, so this answer is less likely.
Based on this analysis, the best answer is A. Southern enslavers hoped to have the ability to expand their holdings westward.
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