Sectionalism Reading

Option 1  

Lexile: 1080
Word Count: 556
Vocabulary: sectionalism, writings, enslave, courageously, northerner, sectional, abolitionist, abolition, planter, farm 

In the 1850s, the United States was still a young and growing nation faced with increasing divisions between the regions, especially the North and South. Despite working together to compromise in the past, the cultural, social, and political differences were widening, making agreement difficult.  

At the heart of these differences were the economies of the North and South. The South’s climate and soil were ideal for farming crops like cotton and tobacco, which required extensive labor. Planters often used forced work by enslaved people. Most Southerners lived on farms or in small towns.  

The North was more industrialized, with factory production of goods like fabrics, shoes, and weapons. Many people owned farms, but growing numbers of people lived and worked in cities. Slavery was not used in Northern factories, and eventually, all Northern states banned slavery. 

Beginning in the 1830s, a strong movement against slavery appeared in the North, advocating for the complete end of slavery in the United States, called abolition. Though slavery was already illegal in the North, abolitionists wanted to prevent its expansion into western territories and abolish it nationwide. They viewed slavery as cruel and incompatible with the natural rights and liberty principles of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The South banned abolitionist writings in the region, and even many Northerners disliked abolitionists because of their radical views. White and Black abolitionists courageously spoke against slavery even when angry crowds and mobs threatened them.  

By the 1850s, this growing divide between the regions, known as sectionalism, made compromise increasingly difficult. Events like John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry, the Dred Scott decision, and the Compromise of 1850 showed the rising tensions between North and South. 

The presidential election of 1860 highlighted these divisions. Four candidates ran for the presidency. John Bell’s party aimed to ease tensions and prevent civil war by finding a middle ground. Abraham Lincoln, the Republican candidate, opposed the spread of slavery into new territories but believed the federal government could not outlaw slavery where it already existed. He argued his position aligned with the Founders’ views.  Stephen Douglas advocated for popular sovereignty, meaning he thought it should be left to the settlers of each new western state to determine if slavery would be allowed. John C. Breckinridge warned that Lincoln’s election would lead to slave rebellions, tyranny, and the destruction of traditional society and culture in the South. 

The election became a sectional contest, with Lincoln and Douglas competing in the North, and Bell and Breckinridge in the South. Lincoln won less than 40% of the popular vote but carried almost all the free states, securing a majority in the Electoral College and becoming the first Republican president. 

Southerners refused to accept Lincoln as their president because of his statements opposing the spread of slavery and declaring slavery morally evil. They decided to leave the Union rather than accept the results of the election.  

South Carolina led the movement, leaving the Union in December 1860, followed by other Southern states. In February 1861, seven Southern states formed the Confederate States of America. Later, after the attack on Fort Sumter, they would be joined by more, bringing the total to eleven.  

They believed in the right of states to leave the Union. However, Lincoln and the North viewed it as treason and rebellion because it violated the Constitution. According to the Constitution, the president had the authority to respond to such rebellions. Compromise efforts failed, and by April 1861, the nation was at war. The sectional issues surrounding slavery and the election of 1860 had led to the Civil War. 

  

Option 2 

Lexile: 880
Word Count: 414
Vocabulary: sectionalism, enslaved, northerner, sectional, abolitionist, outlaw, rebellion, cruel, slavery, cash crops 

In the 1850s, the United States was a young, growing country. Despite all the ways the country had worked together in the past, they were not getting along. As the country grew, so did differences between North and South.  

The North and South made money in very different ways. This led to differences in how they lived their daily lives. People in the South lived on farms and in small towns. They relied on enslaved labor to farm cash crops like cotton and tobacco. The North had many farms but also produced more factory goods and had outlawed slavery.   

Around the same time, a movement of people called “abolitionists” emerged in the North, supporting the end of slavery in the United States. They saw slavery as cruel and against the natural rights and liberty principles of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The ideas of abolitionists threatened the Southerners’ way of life.  

The differences between the North and South became known as sectionalism. It made compromise very hard. The government tried to keep things calm, but tensions kept rising.  

This was reflected in the deeply divided presidential election of 1860. There were four candidates for president in the election:   

• John Bell hoped to calm the nation. He wanted to prevent a civil war and focused on finding compromise between North and South.  
• Abraham Lincoln held a more antislavery position. He opposed the spread of slavery into the new American lands but believed the government could not outlaw slavery where it already existed.  
• Stephen Douglas wanted to let popular vote decide slavery in the new lands. 
• John C. Breckinridge focused on the threat of Abraham Lincoln. He said Lincoln would tear apart the society and culture of the South because of what he said about slavery. 

The election was mostly a sectional contest. Lincoln and Douglas competed for votes in the North. Bell and Breckinridge competed in the South. Lincoln won the election and became the president of the United States. 

Southerners refused to accept Lincoln as their president. South Carolina led the fight against Lincoln. People there decided to leave the Union in December 1860. Other Southern states soon followed. They created a new government, the Confederate States of America. Southerners believed that states’ rights included the right to leave the Union. Lincoln and the Northerners saw leaving the Union as rebellion. Under the Constitution, the president could stop such a rebellion. Attempts at compromise failed and fighting began in April 1861. The election of 1860 and sectional beliefs about slavery had led to the Civil War.