1. Slavery: The institution of slavery was the most contentious issue of the time. The Northern states had largely abolished slavery, while the Southern states relied on slave labor to sustain their agricultural economies. The expansion of slavery into new territories and the issue of fugitive slaves created deep divisions between the two regions.
2. States' Rights vs. Federal Power: The ongoing debate over the balance of power between the federal government and individual states was another source of conflict. The Southern states advocated for states' rights and limited federal intervention, while the Northern states supported a stronger central government.
3. Economic Development and Tariffs: The Northern economy was becoming increasingly industrialized, while the Southern economy remained agrarian. This led to disagreements over trade policies, with the North advocating for protective tariffs to support domestic industries and the South opposing them as they increased the cost of imported goods.
4. Immigration: The influx of European immigrants into the United States, especially in the Northern states, fueled tensions between native-born Americans and the new arrivals. Competition for jobs, religious differences, and cultural clashes contributed to anti-immigrant sentiments and discrimination.
5. Manifest Destiny and Western Expansion: The idea of Manifest Destiny, the belief that the United States was destined to expand its territory across the continent, led to disputes over the acquisition of new territories and the extension of slavery into these areas.
These social, political, and economic issues intersected and deepened the divisions between the North and the South, eventually culminating in the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861.