1. Slavery: The institution of slavery was the most divisive issue between the North and the South. The North was becoming increasingly opposed to slavery on moral grounds, while the South fiercely defended it as essential to their economy and way of life.
2. Expansion of Slavery: The question of whether slavery would be allowed in territories acquired by the United States, such as the newly conquered Mexican Cession, was a major point of contention. The North favored restrictions on slavery's expansion, while the South demanded equal access to these new territories.
3. Fugitive Slave Act: The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, passed as part of the Compromise of 1850, required all citizens to assist in capturing and returning escaped slaves. This law was deeply resented by many Northerners, who viewed it as a violation of individual rights and a betrayal of the ideals of freedom and equality.
4. States' Rights vs. Federal Power: The debate over states' rights and federal power was another key factor in the sectional crisis. Southerners argued that states had the right to determine their own laws and institutions, including the legality of slavery. Northerners, on the other hand, believed that the federal government had the authority to regulate and control issues such as slavery and interstate commerce.
5. Economic Divergence: The North and South had increasingly divergent economic interests. The North was becoming industrialized, with a growing manufacturing sector and diversified economy. In contrast, the South remained largely agrarian, dependent on cash crops like cotton and rice and reliant on slave labor.
6. Political Power: The North was growing in population and economic strength, which led to an imbalance of representation in Congress and the Electoral College. Southerners felt that their political influence was diminishing and they were at risk of being dominated by the North.
The convergence of these issues created an atmosphere of deep division and mutual distrust between the North and the South. Sectional tensions continued to escalate, eventually leading to the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861.