Before and during the Civil War, Americans had significant disagreements over the role of federal and state governments. These debates primarily revolved around the issues of slavery and states' rights. Southerners argued that the federal government should have limited powers, allowing individual states to decide their stance on slavery. They believed in the concept of states' rights and feared that a strong federal government would threaten their way of life and their economy, which heavily relied on slave labor. Conversely, many northerners favored a strong federal government and believed in the preservation of the union. They argued that slavery was a moral issue and that it was the duty of the federal government to regulate it. These differences in opinion ultimately led to the secession of Southern states and the outbreak of the Civil War.
