After reading the documents in the Online Reader and watching the videos, respond to the following prompt:
The 1850s saw increasing tension between those who supported the institution of slavery (either as slave owners or those benefiting from
their position in a slaveholding society) and those who opposed the institution of slavery. Based upon the information found in the readings
and in the videos, how would you describe the growing tension during that time period? Was it fueled more by religious teachings? Political
opportunity? Economic considerations? Something else? And why do you think it was coming to a head in the 1850s?
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