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CW1.9 – Defining Ideas in Context: States’ Rights (page 1 of 3)
One of the most important concepts in this unit is the noun phrase, “States’ Rights.” Understanding how this
term was used in the 1800s requires more than just learning the dictionary definition. It was a fundamental
cause of tension between the North and the South.
To get a sense of how this phrase was used and what it meant to both the Union and the Confederacy, and to
understand how it relates to the question of freedom during the war, read the following short excerpts that
describe related terms. Each of these excerpts follows a common practice in history texts- they define
important terms within the text itself, using punctuation marks or phrases, like “known as,” or “called ....” In the
examples that follow, the authors have used commas to separate a term from its definition.
Instructions:
1. Highlight or underline the definition for each noun.
2. Speculate (or guess) how that noun might be related to the phrase “states’ rights.”
3. Read the excerpt from the Lincoln-Douglas Debate, which summarizes much of the concept of states’
rights.
4. Finally, create your own definition of states’ rights.
Concept #1: Federalism
“Just as the Constitution divides power among the three branches of the federal government, it also
divides power between the states and the nation, a division known as federalism.” (p. 155)
How do you think this term is related to the phrase “States’ Rights?”
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Concept #2: Popular Sovereignty
“For decades, the major parties – the Whigs and the Democrats – had avoided the slavery issue, thus
managing to win support in both the North and the South. In 1848, they hoped once again to attract
voters from all sides of the slavery debate….
Both Democrats and Whigs addressed the problem by embracing the idea of popular sovereignty, a
policy stating that voters in a territory – not Congress – should decide whether or not to allow slavery
there. This idea had wide appeal, since it seemed in keeping with the traditions of American
democracy.” (p. 326)
How do you think this term is related to the phrase “States’ Rights?”
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CW1.7 – Defining Ideas in Context: States’ Rights (page 2 of 3)
Concept #3: Secede (Verb)
“… Calhoun did not believe that Clay’s proposal gave the South enough protection. If the North
would not submit to the South’s demands, “let the states agree to separate and part in peace. If
you are unwilling that we should part in peace, tell us so, and we shall know what to do.” In
other words, if the North did not agree, the South would secede, or break away, from the
Union.” (p. 327)
Note: The act of seceding is known as secession.
How do you think this term is related to the phrase “States’ Rights?”
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Concept #4: Nullification (Noun)
This episode convinced [John C. Calhoun] that the future of slavery, which he supported,
required a stronger defense of states’ rights. Toward that end, he began to champion [argue for]
the concept of nullification, which meant that states could nullify, or void, any federal law
deemed [thought to be] unconstitutional. (p. 256)
How do you think this term is related to the phrase “States’ Rights?”
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Source for Concept Excerpts: Emma J. Lapsansky-Werner, Peter B. Levy, Randy Roberts, and Alan Taylor, United States
History (Boston: Holt, Pearson Education, 2008).
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Civil War Lesson #1: The Road to War
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CW1.9 – Defining Ideas in Context: States’ Rights (page 3 of 3)
Stephen Douglas (in a speech during the Lincoln-Douglas Debate, 1858)
“I repeat that the principle is the right of each State, [and] each
Territory, to decide this slavery question for itself, to have
slavery or not, as it chooses, and it does not become Mr. Lincoln,
or anybody else, to tell the people of Kentucky that they have
no consciences, that they are living in a state of iniquity, [sin]
and that they are cherishing an institution to their bosoms in
violation of the law of God. Better for him to adopt the doctrine
.’" of ‘judge not lest ye shall be judged.’”
Defining States’ Rights
Using your work above and the Douglas quote, define the phrase “states’
rights” and explain what it has to do with the division between North and
South.
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Stephen A. Douglas, full-length portrait, facing front,
1860, Source: Library of Congress,
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2005696317/
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Civil War Lesson #1: The Road to War
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CW1.9K – Defining Ideas in Context: States’ Rights Key (p. 1 of 2)
Concept #1: Federalism
“Just as the Constitution divides power among the three branches of the federal government, it also divides
power between the states and the nation, a division known as federalism.” (p. 155)
How do you think this term is related to the phrase “States’ Rights?”
Answers will vary, but the fundamental idea is that states’ rights means more power for the states and less for the
nation.
Concept #2: Popular Sovereignty
“For decades, the major parties – the Whigs and the Democrats – had avoided the slavery issue, thus managing
to win support in both the North and the South. In 1848, they hoped once again to attract voters from all sides
of the slavery debate….
Both Democrats and Whigs addressed the problem by embracing the idea of popular sovereignty, a policy
stating that voters in a territory – not Congress – should decide whether or not to allow slavery there. This idea
had wide appeal, since it seemed in keeping with the traditions of American democracy.” (p. 326)
How do you think this term is related to the phrase “States’ Rights?”
Answers will vary, but the main idea is that the voters in a territory would become voters in a state, and they
would have more power than Congress did over the issue of slavery.
Concept #3: Secede
“…Calhoun did not believe that Clay’s proposal gave the South enough protection. If the North would not
submit to the South’s demands, “let the states agree to separate and part in peace. If you are unwilling that we
should part in peace, tell us so, and we shall know what to do.” In other words, if the North did not agree, the
South would secede, or break away, from the Union.” (p. 327)
How do you think this term is related to the phrase “States’ Rights?”
Answers will vary. The main idea is that the Southern states would secede to protect their rights. Secession is the
ultimate form of states’ rights.
Concept #4: Nullification
This episode convinced [John C. Calhoun] that the future of slavery, which he supported, required a stronger
defense of states’ rights. Toward that end, he began to champion the concept of nullification, which meant
that states could nullify, or void, any federal law deemed [judged to be] unconstitutional. (p. 256)
How do you think this term is related to the phrase “States’ Rights?”
The states would have the right to nullify any federal law that they decided was unconstitutional. They would not
have to obey the federal government if they did not want to.
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Civil War Lesson #1: The Road to War
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CW1.9K – Defining Ideas in Context: States’ Rights Key (p. 2 of 2)
Stephen Douglas (Lincoln-Douglas Debate, 1858)
Defining States’ Rights
Using your work above and the Douglas quote, define the phrase “states rights” and explain what it has to do
with the division between North and South.
States’ Rights means that in the constitutional division of powers between the states and the federal government,
the states should have the most authority. Those who believed in states’ rights did not believe that the federal
government should tell the states that they couldn’t have slavery. According to the idea of states’ rights, each
state should have the right to decide about slavery itself. Many people in the South argued for states’ rights and
many in the North argued against the idea.
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Civil War Lesson #1: The Road to War
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CW1.10 – Chronology of States’ Rights Timeline (Part 1)
th
The 10
Amendment
Alien & Sedition Acts
The Missouri Compromise
If the Constitution
does not give a power
directly to the Federal
Government, the
power goes to the
states.
The Alien act (law) made it more
difficult for immigrants to live in
the U.S. The Sedition Act (law)
made it a crime for anyone to write
or say anything bad or false about
the President, Congress, or the
government.
Missouri entered the Union as
a slave state & Maine entered
the Union as a free state.
Slavery was prohibited in any
new territories or states
formed north of the 36˚ 30’
latitude line.
1791
1798
1820
The Virginia and Kentucky
Resolutions
These resolutions stated that
the Alien and Sedition Acts
(laws) were unconstitutional,
so Virginia and Kentucky
were not going to follow
those laws.
1799
The Tariff of 1832
Congress passed a
tariff (tax on imported
goods) on iron,
textiles, and other
manufactured goods
that hurt the Southern
economy.
The Hartford Convention
Nullification Crisis
(During the War of 1812)
South Carolina called a state convention
to nullify the tariff. They warned the
federal government not to use force to
collect the taxes, or they would secede
from the Union.
The British Blockade along
East Coast hurt the New
England trading industry. A
group of Federalist
representatives in Hartford,
Connecticut, suggested that
the New England states
should secede from the
Union.
Many Southern leaders feared that if the
federal government could pass and
enforce this tariff, then they could
eventually try to end slavery.
1814
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1832
CW1.10 – Chronology of States’ Rights Timeline (Part 2)
The Compromise of
1850
Dred Scott vs. Sanford Case
California joined the
Union as a free state.
Slavery in all other
territories from the
Mexican Cession would
be decided by Popular
Sovereignty.
The Supreme Court ruled that
African Americans, whether
free or slave, were not
considered citizens, and that
the Missouri Compromise was
unconstitutional. Even if slaves
were moved to a free state,
they would still be slaves.
1850
1857
1840
1840
1850
Abraham Lincoln
Elected
He and his party, the
Republicans, were against
the extension of slavery
to new states, but did not
say that slavery should be
abolished in the South.
2. Which events caused states to threaten to
secede from the union?
1860
3. After 1850, what was the biggest states’
rights issue [political problem or
question]?
1860
The issue of slavery would be
decided by Popular
Sovereignty in the Kansas and
Nebraska Territories.
Secession
Fearing that Lincoln’s
government would abolish
slavery, South Carolina was
the first state to secede
from the Union.
1854
1860…
The Kansas-Nebraska Act
Answer these questions in complete
sentences.
1. In the 10th Amendment, how is the power
in the United States divided?
4. What freedom do states’ rights and
secession offer?
Key
Constitution
Act of Congress (Federal government)
Act of state governments
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CW1.10K-Chronology of States’ Rights Timeline Key
Answer these questions in complete sentences.
1. In the 10th Amendment, how is the power in the United States divided? Unless a power is given to the federal government by the
constitution, that power belongs to the states.
2. Which events caused states to threaten to secede from the union? The events that caused states to threaten to secede were the
British blockade, the Tariff of 1832, and the election of Lincoln.
3. After 1850, what was the biggest states’ rights issue [political problem or question]? The biggest states’ rights issue was whether
new states admitted to the union would be free or slave states.
4. What freedom do states’ rights and secession offer? States’ rights and secession offer states the freedom to decide their own policies
if they don’t agree with the federal government’s acts.
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Civil War Lesson #1: The Road to War
Copyright © 2011, The Regents of the University of California, All Rights Reserved