How did fugitive slave issue and the wilmot proviso pull the nation apart?

The fugitive slave issue heightened tensions between free and slave states, as Northern states resisted the enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Act, leading to conflicts over states' rights and individual liberties. Meanwhile, the Wilmot Proviso, which sought to ban slavery in territories acquired from Mexico, ignited fierce debates over the expansion of slavery, further polarizing the nation along sectional lines. Together, these issues exacerbated existing divisions, contributing to the growing animosity between North and South and ultimately paving the way for the Civil War.