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"Slave Power" refers to the undue influence and control that slave owners wielded in the political, social, and economic realms of the United States, particularly in the years leading up to the Civil War. This concept emerged from the perception that a small, elite class of slaveholders in the South had considerable power over national policy decisions, often prioritizing their interests at the expense of the larger population and even non-slaveholding whites.

The term gained traction as abolitionists and anti-slavery advocates highlighted how the political system disproportionately favored Southern slave interests, resulting in the expansion of slavery into new territories and states and often overriding the interests of free states. This perception fueled tensions between the North and South, as many in the North viewed the influence of slave owners as corrupt and detrimental to democratic ideals.

The other options highlight different aspects of the period's dynamics but do not reflect the specific, recognized notion of "Slave Power." For instance, while manufacturing control is important to understanding economic differences between the North and South, it does not encapsulate the political power dynamic of slaveholders. Similarly, the influence of non-slaveholding states was often seen as counter to the interests of slave owners rather than a manifestation of "Slave Power". Lastly, the abolition