Antebellum Period: Sectionalism, The Abolition Movement, States Rights, and Nullification

          Due to disputes over slavery and cultural differences, sectionalism - tensions among regions of a country - was abundant before the war, particularly between the North and the South. The North was diversifying and progressing economically, while the South was sticking to its quaint, agrarian based economy. Cotton was a staple source of income in the South,and the large plantations that manufactured cotton required an abundance of free labor i.e. slaves.The wealthy plantation owners invested tens of thousands of dollars in their slaves, so naturally when the pro-abolition North asked them to free their slaves, the plantation owners responded with an absolute no. It's important to note that these wealthy plantation owners controlled much of the congressional power. Abolitionist groups were erupting throughout the North. They argued it was immoral and against God to hold slaves,and wanted slave owners to free slaves without compensation. Opposed to this was the pro-slavery South. They argued slaves were provided by God in order to manage plantations, and freeing slaves would be "injurious to society'' and ''scatter discontent." (Cincinnati Post, 1842)

          Since the North and South had such different economies, it was quite possible that the North could go through a depression without the South. This hypothetical became a reality after the War of 1812. The United States government was in major debt,and the North went through economic depression. The United States Government imposed a tariff on the South in order to maintain the Northern economy and industry. South Carolina declared the tax unconstitutional and nullified,or invalidated, it.This is was called the "Nullification Crisis.'' South Carolina believed that the states' rights should be prioritized above the federal government's. President Andrew Jackson responded by sending troops to South Carolina, which almost lead to war.

Above: An Anti-Abolitionist handbill that helped to instigate the
Boston Riot of 1835, in which a riot invaded the hall 
where the Boston-Female-Anti-Slavery-Society was gathered.
Source:http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/african/afam005.html

Above: Cartoon on Andrew Jackson's response

to South Carolina's nullification

 link: potus-geeks.livejournal.com