The Southern faction refers to a group within the Democratic Party in the 19th century that represented the interests of the southern states, specifically those that supported slavery and opposed abolition.
Related terms
Northern faction: This term refers to a group within the Democratic Party in the 19th century that represented the interests of northern states and opposed slavery.
Compromise of 1850: A set of laws passed by Congress to maintain a balance between free and slave states, which attempted to appease both Northern and Southern factions.
Secession: The act of formally withdrawing from a political or economic union, which several southern states did after Abraham Lincoln's election in 1860 due to fears over their perceived loss of power.