The sectional crisis refers to the period of heightened tension and conflict between the Northern and Southern regions of the United States, primarily over issues such as slavery, state's rights, and territorial expansion. It culminated in the American Civil War.
Related terms
Abolitionism: The movement to end slavery in the United States through moral persuasion and political action.
Popular Sovereignty: The idea that residents of a territory should decide whether to allow slavery within their borders.
Compromise of 1850: A series of laws passed by Congress aimed at resolving disputes arising from new territories acquired after the Mexican-American War.