From the founding of the republic, conflict between the North and the South shaped America. Discuss the origins of sectional conflict and its evolution into sectional crisis. In answering this question, you should 1) discuss the major events affecting North-South relations from the eighteenth century to the outbreak of the Civil War; 2) examine how the economic evolution of the nation strained north-south relations; and 3) determine the Supreme Court’s role in the conflict.
Your essay should have a main thesis (or central argument) that is clearly stated in the introductory paragraph. It should include concrete examples (brief discussions of people, events, organizations, etc.) from the class notes, books, movies and/or primary source documents that support the essay’s major points. Finally, it should address potential counterarguments and conclude with a summation of your main thesis.
