Well....I would ASSUME that it's B. I'm just guessing here of course.
<u>Broad Context:</u> The "Big Picture" is that the US is trying to annex the Republic of Texas as part of their states, and that Texas already <em>shared many common traits </em>(why? part) with the US, and should join as a state of their choosing, (which means slave or free) (How? part).
<u>Other Context:<em> </em></u><em> </em>The adding of Texas into the US (eventually as a slave state) offsetted the balance between the slaves and free states, and so California (gained after the Mexican-American War) was turned into a free state. Texas was the cause of the Texas Revolution & later on the (already named) Mexican-American War. The adding of Texas, and later the Gadsen Purchase, help create today's US southern border that is shared with Mexico.
hope this helps
The Antebellum Period in American history is generally considered to be the period before the civil war and after the War of 1812. <span>Slaves in the U.S. resisted their bondage through many passive forms of resistance, such as damaging equipment, working slowly, or keeping their culture and religious beliefs alive, although that often required secrecy. </span>