In the election of 1848 the major parties were forced to openly state their position on slavery because of

Parties were forced to speak out their stand on on going slave trade in the united states.   the rise of the confederacy and had played an important role in the slave trade. the confederacy had aimed to free slave from the the ongoing trade. though many had not supported the confederacy but still many people were starting to become aware of the implications of the slave trade in the united states.