Question

How did Americans disagree over the role of federal and state governments before and during the Civil War?
(4 points)

VERY SMALL SUMMERIZE pls ty :3

Answer 1

Before and during the Civil War, Americans disagreed over the role of federal and state governments in several ways:

1. **State Sovereignty vs. Federal Authority**: Many Southern states believed in states' rights, arguing they should have the authority to govern themselves and make decisions, including the legality of slavery. In contrast, the federal government aimed to promote a more unified national policy.

2. **Slavery and Territorial Rights**: Disputes arose over whether new states should allow slavery, leading to tension between pro-slavery Southern states and anti-slavery Northern interests. This conflict highlighted differing views on the federal government's power to regulate slavery.

3. **Secession**: Southern states justified secession by claiming they had the right to leave the Union. This directly challenged the authority of the federal government, which maintained that the Union was indissoluble.

4. **Economic Policies**: Different economic interests also influenced views on government roles; Northern industrialists often favored tariffs and federal aid, while Southern agrarians opposed these measures, advocating for state control over economic decisions.

Overall, these disagreements reflected deeper ideological divisions over governance and civil rights that contributed to the tensions leading up to the Civil War.