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How did Americans disagree over the role of federal and state governments before and during the Civil War? (4 points) MAKE THIS SOUND LIKE A 8TH GRADER
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Before and during the Civil War, Americans had big disagreements about the roles of federal and state governments. Here are four main points that explain their different views:
1. **State Rights vs. Federal Authority**: Many people in the South believed that states should have more power to make their own laws, especially about slavery. They thought the federal government should step back and let states decide what was best for them. On the other hand, people in the North believed that the federal government should have the power to create laws that applied to everyone, like stopping the spread of slavery.
2. **Slavery Issues**: The argument over slavery was a huge point of disagreement. Southern states wanted to keep slavery because it was important for their economy, and they thought they had the right to do so. The Northern states, however, wanted to limit or end slavery and believed the federal government should step in to help with that.
3. **Constitutional Interpretation**: Different views on the Constitution also caused disagreements. Some people interpreted it as allowing states to do what they wanted, which meant they could refuse federal laws they didn’t like, such as those aimed at limiting slavery. Others felt that the Constitution supported a strong federal government that could enforce laws across all states.
4. **Secession and Civil War**: As tensions grew, Southern states decided to secede from the Union because they felt the federal government was overstepping its bounds by trying to control states' decisions about slavery. This led to the Civil War, where these disagreements about state and federal power turned into a violent conflict, highlighting how deeply divided the country was.
In summary, the arguments about the balance of power between state and federal governments were central to the disagreements that led to the Civil War.
1. **State Rights vs. Federal Authority**: Many people in the South believed that states should have more power to make their own laws, especially about slavery. They thought the federal government should step back and let states decide what was best for them. On the other hand, people in the North believed that the federal government should have the power to create laws that applied to everyone, like stopping the spread of slavery.
2. **Slavery Issues**: The argument over slavery was a huge point of disagreement. Southern states wanted to keep slavery because it was important for their economy, and they thought they had the right to do so. The Northern states, however, wanted to limit or end slavery and believed the federal government should step in to help with that.
3. **Constitutional Interpretation**: Different views on the Constitution also caused disagreements. Some people interpreted it as allowing states to do what they wanted, which meant they could refuse federal laws they didn’t like, such as those aimed at limiting slavery. Others felt that the Constitution supported a strong federal government that could enforce laws across all states.
4. **Secession and Civil War**: As tensions grew, Southern states decided to secede from the Union because they felt the federal government was overstepping its bounds by trying to control states' decisions about slavery. This led to the Civil War, where these disagreements about state and federal power turned into a violent conflict, highlighting how deeply divided the country was.
In summary, the arguments about the balance of power between state and federal governments were central to the disagreements that led to the Civil War.
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