Sectional Tensions

Definition

Sectional Tensions refers to the growing political, economic, and social divisions between the Northern and Southern regions of the United States in the years leading up to the American Civil War. These tensions stemmed from fundamental differences in economic systems, social structures, and political ideologies between the two sections of the country.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Dred Scott decision of 1857, which ruled that African Americans were not citizens and could not sue in federal courts, exacerbated sectional tensions by effectively legalizing the expansion of slavery into the territories.
2. The election of Abraham Lincoln, a Republican who opposed the expansion of slavery, in 1860 was seen by the South as a threat to their way of life and a key factor in their decision to secede from the Union.
3. The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, which allowed settlers in those territories to decide the status of slavery, led to violent clashes between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions, further heightening sectional tensions.
4. The Compromise of 1850, which attempted to resolve disputes over slavery in the territories, only temporarily eased sectional tensions, as the underlying issues remained unresolved.
5. The rise of the abolitionist movement in the North, which sought the immediate and complete abolition of slavery, was viewed with alarm by many in the South and contributed to growing sectional divisions.

Review Questions

• Explain how the Dred Scott decision contributed to sectional tensions in the United States.
  • The Dred Scott decision of 1857 was a landmark Supreme Court case that exacerbated sectional tensions between the North and South. The ruling, which stated that African Americans were not citizens and could not sue in federal courts, effectively legalized the expansion of slavery into the territories. This was seen by many in the North as a significant blow to their efforts to limit the spread of slavery, and it fueled the growing divide between the two regions over the issue of slavery and its role in American society.
• Describe how the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 contributed to the growing sectional tensions in the country.
  • The election of Abraham Lincoln, a Republican who opposed the expansion of slavery, in 1860 was a major turning point in the growing sectional tensions between the North and South. Many in the South viewed Lincoln's victory as a threat to their way of life and a sign that the federal government was now firmly in the hands of those who sought to limit the spread of slavery. This, combined with Lincoln's call for the preservation of the Union, led several Southern states to secede from the Union, ultimately precipitating the outbreak of the American Civil War.
• Analyze how the rise of the abolitionist movement in the North contributed to the sectional tensions leading up to the Civil War.
  • The rise of the abolitionist movement in the North, which called for the immediate and complete abolition of slavery, was a significant factor in the growing sectional tensions leading up to the Civil War. Many in the South viewed the abolitionist movement as a direct threat to their way of life and the institution of slavery, which was the foundation of the Southern economy. The increased activism and influence of abolitionists in the North, combined with their efforts to limit the expansion of slavery, further exacerbated the divide between the two regions and made compromise on the issue of slavery increasingly difficult. This contributed to the growing sense of irreconcilable differences between the North and South, ultimately leading to the outbreak of the Civil War.

Related terms

Slavery: The institution of slavery was a major source of sectional tension, as the North sought to limit its expansion while the South depended on it economically.

States' Rights: The debate over the balance of power between the federal government and the states was a key aspect of sectional tensions, with the South generally favoring states' rights over federal authority.

Sectionalism: The growing sense of regional identity and interests that led the North and South to view themselves as distinct and often competing sections of the country.