To order the issues leading to the Civil War from when they happened, we should consider their historical context:
- Sectionalism - This concept became pronounced in the early 19th century as different regions of the United States developed distinct economic interests and cultural identities, mainly between the North and the South.
- Nullification - This issue became prominent in the 1830s, particularly with South Carolina's Nullification Crisis in 1832, where the state attempted to invalidate federal tariffs.
- State Rights - The idea of states’ rights was a long-standing argument, but it became a significant issue in the 1850s and played a crucial role in justifying secession during the lead-up to the Civil War.
So the chronological order is:
- Sectionalism
- Nullification
- State Rights