Which of the following best shows how the issue of states' rights contributed to the onset of the Civil War? (1 point)

• Many Northerners believed that states' rights should not extend to slave states.
Many Southerners believed that giving states additional rights would hold back western expansion.
Many Southerners believed the rights of their states were threatened by Northern abolitionists.
Many Northerners believed the rights of their states were threatened by the election of Abraham Lincoln.

1 answer

The statement that best shows how the issue of states' rights contributed to the onset of the Civil War is:

Many Southerners believed the rights of their states were threatened by Northern abolitionists.

This reflects the Southern perspective that their sovereignty and ability to make decisions about slavery within their borders were being challenged by Northern attitudes and actions against the institution of slavery, thus playing a significant role in the tensions that led to the Civil War.