Final answer:
The Free Soilers were a political party opposing the extension of slavery into the territories. Their role revealed the views of a large segment of northern society against the influence of southern slaveholders.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Free Soilers were a political party formed in the mid-19th century, consisting of antislavery Whigs, members of the Liberty Party, and Barnburners. Their main goal was to oppose the extension of slavery into the territories. As revealed in the events described in this lesson, the Free Soilers represented the views of a large segment of northern society that believed southern slaveholders were using their power to protect and expand slavery for their own interests.