Sectionalism, slavery, and states’ rights were interconnected causes of the Civil War. Sectionalism involved the growing divide between the North and South, largely fueled by differing economic interests: the North industrialized, while the South relied on an agrarian economy dependent on slavery. Slavery became a contentious issue, as Northern states sought to limit its expansion, threatening Southern social and economic systems.
States’ rights, particularly in the South, were invoked to justify the protection of slavery and the belief that states could nullify federal laws infringing upon their autonomy. The Southern response to the 1860 election, in which Abraham Lincoln, a candidate opposed to the extension of slavery, won, exemplified this connection. Southern states interpreted Lincoln's victory as a direct threat to their way of life and governance, leading to secession and the formation of the Confederacy. This showcased the intertwining beliefs in states' rights and the commitment to preserving slavery, driving the nation toward civil war.