Secession: Secession refers to the act of formally withdrawing from a political entity, such as a state leaving the United States. It was one possible course of action that Southern states considered after the Election of 1860.
States' Rights: States' rights refers to the belief that individual states have certain powers and authority that are independent from those granted by the federal government. This concept played a significant role in debates over secession.
Nullification: Nullification is the idea that states have the right to invalidate or reject laws passed by the federal government if they believe those laws are unconstitutional. It relates to constitutional interpretation because it involves assessing whether federal laws align with state interpretations of the Constitution.