Impact of the Mexican-American War on U.S. Politics

The Mexican-American War, fought between 1846 and 1848, was a significant conflict driven by the United States' ambitions for territorial expansion under the doctrine of Manifest Destiny. One critical aspect of the war was the congressional debate surrounding the Wilmot Proviso, which sought to ban slavery in any territory acquired from Mexico. This debate highlighted the growing sectional tensions between the North and South over the expansion of slavery. Given this context, which of the following statements most accurately describes the impact of the Mexican-American War on the political landscape of the United States?