Sectional crisis refers to the division between the free North and the slave-owning South in nineteenth-century America. This split had formed distinct cultural identities between the South and the North, ultimately leading to the United States Civil War in 1861. Therefore, it was a significant turning point in American history. The sectional crisis, elevated with the Civil War, had been a contentious issue in America’s internal political system since the country’s conception. Nevertheless, it created circumstances where the Northern vision prevailed in the States.
Therefore, the rapid expansion process brought the potential for economic growth in some areas of the country. However, the international relationship between the Northern and the Southern parts of the United States was tense. This dispute resulted in the Civil War because of contentions between the Union and the Confederacy. Henceforth, as historian McPherson underlined, the northern vision became dominant in the country. This was seen in the agricultural sector, as the slave-based Southern economy was destroyed (“Life in the north after the Civil War,” n.d.). In addition, the Northern economy gained many economic advantages from the war, for example, in developing its industries.
In conclusion, the reasons for the Civil War – disputes over land, enslaving people, and sectionalized discourse – were very common in nineteenth-century America. However, the Mexican-American conflict was the ultimate catalyst for their escalation into the Civil War. Eventually, irreconcilable differences caused the departure of the Southern states from the Union, marking the beginning of the Civil War. As a result, the North has gained a dominant meaning due to the presence of more remarkable development and land, supporting historian McPherson’s words, which became the basis for writing this work.
References
Halabi, G. (n.d.). Westward expansion and the American Civil War. U.S. History Scene.
Kiser, W. S. (2018). Coast-to-Coast Empire: Manifest Destiny and the New Mexico Borderlands. University of Oklahoma Press.
Life in the north after the Civil War. (n.d.). Study.com.