How did Americans disagree over the role of federal and state governments before and during the Civil war?
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Before the Civil War, Americans disagreed over the role of federal and state governments mainly through the debate between the concept of states' rights and federal supremacy. Supporters of states' rights believed that the power and authority of the states should be prioritized over that of the federal government, as guaranteed by the Tenth Amendment. They argued that each state had the right to determine its own laws and policies, particularly in issues such as slavery. Conversely, advocates for federal supremacy believed that a strong central government was necessary to maintain unity and ensure the enforcement of national laws, including those related to slavery. This disagreement over the division of powers between the federal and state governments deepened the divisions between the North and the South, ultimately contributing to the outbreak of the Civil War.