<span>T</span>he Mexican-American War has put the slavery question into a fiercer debate. The independent Republic of Texas was anti-slavery, but would like to join the United States. However, there is a question in the United States whether absorbed territory would be a slave or free state. The Americans emerged victorious in the war, and Texas became a part of the United States and became a slave state, further inflaming tensions between the North and the South that culminated into American Civil War.
Figurative is something that shouldn't be taking literally. For example, when you say "I have a ton of homework" you don't really mean you have 2000 pounds of homework.