how did americans disagree over the role a federal and state governments before and during the civil war?
Before and during the Civil War, Americans had significant disagreements over the roles of federal and state governments. These conflicts primarily revolved around states' rights, slavery, and the balance of power between states and the central government. Here are some key points of disagreement:
1. States' Rights: Many Southern states argued for stronger state sovereignty and a limited federal government. They believed that states should retain the right to govern themselves and make decisions on issues like slavery, while the federal government should have minimal interference. Southern states felt that the Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution protected their rights, including the ability to secede from the Union if they deemed it necessary.
2. Slavery: The institution of slavery was deeply intertwined with debates over federal and state authority. Southern states, whose economies heavily relied on slave labor, were determined to maintain control over slavery regulation. They believed that the federal government had no right to interfere with their property rights (slaves) or meddle with their economic practices. In contrast, Northern states increasingly pushed for the abolition of slavery and believed that the federal government had the authority to prohibit slavery throughout the country.
3. Tariffs and Economic Policies: Disputes over tariffs and economic policies further fueled disagreements between federal and state governments. Southern states relied heavily on agriculture and foreign trade, meaning they required access to foreign markets and cheap imports. They opposed protective tariffs, which they believed favored Northern industrial states at their expense. Southerners argued that states should have the right to nullify these tariffs within their borders, further asserting the importance of state sovereignty.
4. Expansion of States' Rights: The Westward expansion of the United States further complicated matters. As new territories were acquired, the debate arose over whether these territories would allow slavery or not. Southern states viewed this issue as crucial, as the admission of new slave states would help maintain the Southern states' political power in Congress. On the other hand, Northerners argued that the federal government could restrict the expansion of slavery into new territories and prevent its spread.
5. Secession: Ultimately, the most significant disagreement over the role of federal and state governments came when Southern states began seceding from the Union in response to the election of President Abraham Lincoln, a staunch opponent of slavery. These states believed that secession was their constitutional right and that they were exercising their states' rights. In contrast, the federal government, under Lincoln, maintained that secession was illegal and unconstitutional, reinforcing the supremacy of the federal government over the states.
These disagreements ultimately led to the eruption of the American Civil War, a conflict that fundamentally challenged the balance of power between the federal and state governments and aimed to resolve the debates over states' rights, slavery, and overall governance structure.
use the image to answer the question.
based on the illustration showing freed people with union army soldiers, what assumption is the artist making about the effects of the emancipation proclamation?
a. former slaves would fight for the union army against the south
b. former slaves would welcome the arrival of the union army
c. former slaves would not be allowed to live in the north
d. former slave would continue to be enslaved in the north
Based on the illustration showing freed people with Union Army soldiers, the assumption made by the artist about the effects of the Emancipation Proclamation is:
b. Former slaves would welcome the arrival of the Union Army
after the dred scott decision, frederick douglass said he sought to have Americans live up to the principles of the constitution. what did he believe prevented americans from living up to the constitution?
a. manifest destiny
b. abolition
c. popular sovereignty
d. slavery
The correct answer is d. slavery. Frederick Douglass believed that slavery prevented Americans from living up to the principles of the Constitution. He argued that the institution of slavery contradicted the ideals of freedom, equality, and justice enshrined in the Constitution. Douglas was a prominent abolitionist who fought for the end of slavery and the fulfillment of the Constitution's promise of liberty and equality for all.
which of the following led to some northerners labeling john brown as a martyr?
a. browns apperance of being insane and failure of his raid
b. browns acceptance of giving up his life for his beliefs
c. browns desire to organize and carry out a slave revolt
d. browns persistence when fighting back against southern troops
The correct answer is c. Brown's desire to organize and carry out a slave revolt. Some Northerners labeled John Brown as a martyr because they were sympathetic to his cause of abolishing slavery and saw his actions as a brave and principled stand against the institution. Brown's efforts to organize a slave revolt, as demonstrated by his raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859, appealed to those who believed in the righteousness of the abolitionist cause. Despite his ultimate failure and execution, Brown's determination and willingness to sacrifice for his beliefs contributed to the perception of him as a martyr.
the free-soil party was a party was a precursor to which political party
a. know nothing party
b. whig party
c. republican party
d. copperhead party