The United States had been growing even more divided since the first Constitutional Congress. For the first half of the 19th century the slavery was the main issue that caused the division but other things came into play although they all were related to slavery. Such as states rights. Southern states didn't thank the federalist government should have the right to abolish slavery and if they believed the state governments should have the power. The northern states strongly believed in a big, powerful federal government that would have the power to abolish "the biggest evil in America."
