Explain why it was difficult for the federal government to make laws to satisfy both regions (North & South). Hint: Make sure to use key term to explain how the issues of states rights and slavery caused a split within the U.S.
The difficulties for the federal government in making laws to satisfy both regions, North and South, can be attributed to the issues of states' rights and slavery, which caused a deep split within the United States.
One key term that played a significant role in fueling this split was states' rights. The concept of states' rights emphasized the belief that each state should have the power to govern itself and make decisions independently, as outlined in the Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. The Southern states, particularly those with agrarian economies heavily reliant on slavery, strongly asserted their rights to determine their own laws and policies. They argued that the federal government should have limited interference in areas such as the economy, tariffs, and the institution of slavery. In contrast, the Northern states, characterized by a growing industrial economy, favored a stronger central government that could regulate economic matters and enforce policies across all states.
Slavery was another key issue that deepened the divide between the North and South. While the Northern states were gradually moving towards the abolitionist movement, the Southern states heavily relied on enslaved labor for their agricultural practices, specifically in the production of cash crops like cotton. This fundamental difference in labor system and economic dependence caused the South to fiercely defend the institution of slavery, arguing that it was essential to their way of life, economic stability, and, in some cases, even a "positive good" for enslaved individuals themselves. The North, morally opposed to slavery and increasingly influenced by abolitionist sentiments, saw the institution as a violation of human rights and sought its eventual eradication.
The clash between these divergent views on states' rights and slavery made it exceedingly challenging for the federal government to pass legislation that could satisfy both regions. Any attempt to restrict or regulate slavery, perceived as an encroachment on states' rights, was met with strong resistance from the Southern states, fearing that it would lead to the erosion of their economic foundation and autonomy. Similarly, any moves to uphold and extend the institution of slavery were vehemently opposed by the Northern states, reflecting their growing commitment to abolitionism and equality.
These opposing viewpoints and diverging interests eventually led to growing tensions between the North and South, culminating in the secession crisis and the American Civil War. It was only through the resolution of this conflict on the battlefield and the eventual abolition of slavery with the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment that the federal government managed to bridge the divide and achieve a more unified approach to lawmaking.