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WE was a period of time when Americans wanted to expand west. They believed in Manifest Destiny, the idea that it was their destiny to expand. This shows nationalism because this was uniting them with the common goal of WE, but this also causes sectionalism because the North wanted the new territories to be free, while the South want the new territories to be slave states, for sway over Congress. This impacted the Civil War because sections had opposing ideas, causing the Civil War to start.
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The South wanted their enslaved population to count towards their population, giving them more sway in the House. The North didn't want this, saying they should be taxed instead. The 3/5 Compromise stated 3/5 of slaves counted for population and tax. This shows sectionalism because they both wanted something that helped themselves. This caused the Civil War because the South was unhappy that their slaves was taxed. The North thought the South had an unfair advantage in Congress, causing tension. -
Southerners believed the national government was too powerful, and not giving the states enough power. They felt like this was affecting their economy, not letting them plant cash crops with slave labor, which was free. This shows sectionalism because the southern states are worried about their own economy, which is why they believe the government is too strong because they wish to advance their economy. The slave states feel oppressed, so they seceded from the Union which causes the Civil War. -
The Underground Railroad was a movement helping enslaved people escape. It was founded by Harriet Tubman, a former slave. This shows sectionalism because the South doesn’t want this movement, wanting to keep their slaves, while some in the North would even help the Underground Railroad. This leads to the Civil War because the South will be unhappy that the Underground Railroad is taking their slaves, and the North is helping them, causing tension.
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Missouri wanted to come in as a slave state, which would give the slave states an advantage. They decided on the Compromise of 1820. New states north of the 36°30N line would be free, and states south could choose (popular sovereignty). This shows sectionalism because this line was to settle a conflict between sections wanting more influence to further their own beliefs. Fewer states can be slave states with this compromise, which the South thinks is unjust, causing tension and the Civil War. -
The Compromise of 1850 was about land gained in the LA Purchase. CA becomes a free state. UT and NM had popular sovereignty. The Fugitive Slave Law (escaped slaves must be returned) is passed, but slave trading is banned. TX gets $10 million to stabilize border with NM. These show sectionalism because they benefit each section separately. This caused tension because the South is unhappy if they cannot trade slaves, and the North is unhappy about the Fugitive Slave Law, causing the Civil War. -
This law said that slaves in a free state were required to be caught and given back to their owners. This gives the national government duty to find and try slaves who escaped. This shows sectionalism because this would make the slave states happy. Getting back escaped slaves would improve their economy, but this does not work to unite the nation. The northern states would not like this new law, causing tension between the North and the South, which in turn causes the Civil War. -
Many slave states felt oppressed because the free states were trying to free the slaves that were the root of the South’s economy, so they chose to leave the Union and form the Confederacy. This shows sectionalism because the U.S. was breaking up by section, not coming together. This was one of the leading factors of the Civil War because Lincoln wanted to bring the states back into the U.S., and the slaves would be free if the Union won the war, but they wouldn’t if the Confederacy did. -
The Emancipation Proclamation was made during the Civil War. It stated that all the slaves in the seceded states were free. This shows sectionalism because this is what the northern states want, which would cause the southern slave states to think this law wasn’t good for their economy and resist it. This impacts the Civil War because now, the North must win for slaves to be freed, and the South wants to win to keep their economy going.