States' Rights
In the late 1820's the disagreement between the rights the government should have and the rights the states should have. This dispute started over the debate of slavery. Some states wanted the power to overule a law that was passed by the U.S. Congress. The Southerners favored that the states should be able to decide whether or not they have to enforce a law. On the other hand the Northerners wanted a strong fedeeral government. In the South they did not want a law that denied slavery because they belived very strongally that it helped their economy so that is why they wanted their states to have the power not to enforce it. Tensions rose and the war was about to begin.
Stephen Douglas
Stephen Douglas thought that slavery could not just be in half of the country. He believed that it would seperate the country even more than it already was. He belived that it would cause a war between the North and the South. Turns out he was correct. "the people have the lawful means to introduce it or exclude it as they please" is what he said in one of the debates agasnist Lincoln. So he was for the rights of the states.
Abraham Lincoln
As the sixteenth president of the United States Abraham Lincoln was the iconic president for the Civil War and States' Rights and also slavery. He belived in preserving the union. Abe wanted a centeral government so he was called a Federalist. Lincoln was also known to tell people what they wanted to hear.
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
These debates were between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas. Douglas wanted the states to be able to do as they please. This video is about their debates.
The Nullification Crisis
When a tariff was placed on goods from the European imports to protect the New England industries the Southerners got very upset and thought it was hurting some of their bussiness. South Carolina wanted their state to be excluded from the law the wanted their "States' Rights". The Nullification Crisis was really the start of the battle between States' Rights.