Final answer:
The outcome of the election of 1852 was influenced by the extension of slavery, sectional tensions, and the discovery of gold in California. The election set the stage for the Republican Party's growth in the North.
Step-by-step explanation:
The outcome of the election of 1852 was influenced by several issues, including the extension of slavery and the ongoing sectional tensions between the North and the South. The discovery of gold in California in 1848 also played a role in shaping the outcome. The issue of slavery had dominated public discourse, and the election paved the way for the continuation of those divisions as the Republican Party grew stronger in the North.