The Clashes Of Federalism And Sectionalism In Antebelum Era—The Decisive Cause Of American Civil War

Americans and their political lives had been haunted by endless sectional clashesbetween the South and the North over various issues in the Antebellum Era. Theirresolvable sectional animosities ultimately developed into military confrontation, theCivil War in1860s, which would definitely transform American political system into anew direction. Countless Civil War researchers have undertaken extensive studies overthe war itself and other relevant topics and made great achievement, but theirexplorations of the causes of the war differ enormously. The thesis is aimed atexploring the causes of Civil War from the perspective of federalism, specificallystate-centered federalism, which failed to resolve sectional clashes and reach nationalreconciliation amongst Americans in Antebellum Era. In a federal union, the harmonyamongst all contracted members in each aspect is essential to the union’s survival,which can be justified by analyzing the development of federalism and the evolutionof sectionalism in Antebellum Era. Sectional confrontations in military form greatlyinfluenced American politics and social life as well. The significance of the war wasthat it would fundamentally transform American state—centered federalism intofederal—centered federalism, in which the federal government is expected toconsolidate its authority and power at the expense of state governments. In fact, whena country is composed of different sections with clashing political and economicappeals, whatever forms of government it takes in the distribution and arrangement ofoffices as well as other resources, the nation and its people are expected to face thesame danger as American people once did if its central government cannot deliver theprinciples of equality and fairness.