What is the connection among sectionalism, slavery, and states’ rights as causes of the Civil War? How did the Southern response to the 1860 election results demonstrate this connection? pls
Sectionalism, slavery, and states' rights were interconnected causes of the Civil War. Sectionalism refers to the loyalty to one's region over the country as a whole, with the North and South developing different economies, cultures, and social structures. Slavery was a divisive issue between the North, which wanted to abolish it, and the South, where the economy relied heavily on slave labor. States' rights played into this by allowing states to decide for themselves whether to allow slavery, leading to tensions between the federal government and individual states.
The Southern response to the 1860 election results demonstrated this connection as many Southern states viewed Abraham Lincoln's election as a threat to their way of life, particularly regarding slavery and states' rights. They believed that Lincoln's anti-slavery platform would undermine their economic interests and social structure based on slave labor. In response, several Southern states seceded from the Union, forming the Confederate States of America, as they felt their rights were being infringed upon by the federal government. This ultimately led to the outbreak of the Civil War.