Question

northerners and southerners disagreed about states’ rights and the power of the federal government. read each quotation, and identify whether it most likely represents the perspective of a southern state leader or a northern state leader in the 1850s.

	northern state leader	southern state leader
“all states help make our laws and all states must follow our laws.”	○	○
“laws made by the federal government override laws made by states.”	○	○
“congress is acting like a tyrant, telling us what we can and cannot do!”	○	○
“it was our choice to join the union, and will be our choice whether to leave it.”	○	○
“the country cannot be broken apart. it is one nation and must remain as one.”	○	○

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each quotation based on the historical perspectives of Northern (federal power, Union unity) and Southern (states' rights, potential secession) leaders in the 1850s:

1. "States have the right to nullify any law they disagree with."

Southern leaders emphasized states’ rights, including nullification. Northern leaders supported federal authority.

• Northern state leader: ∘
• Southern state leader: •

2. "All states help make our laws and all states must follow our laws."

Northern leaders believed in federal authority and uniform law - following. Southern leaders prioritized states’ rights over federal compliance.

• Northern state leader: •
• Southern state leader: ∘

3. "Laws made by the federal government override laws made by states."

This reflects Northern support for federal supremacy. Southern leaders opposed federal laws overriding state laws.

• Northern state leader: •
• Southern state leader: ∘

4. "Congress is acting like a tyrant, telling us what we can and cannot do!"

Southern leaders often viewed federal (Congress) actions as overstepping states’ rights. Northern leaders supported federal authority.

• Northern state leader: ∘
• Southern state leader: •

5. "It was our choice to join the Union, and will be our choice whether to leave it."

Southern leaders argued for states’ right to secede. Northern leaders believed the Union was perpetual.

• Northern state leader: ∘
• Southern state leader: •

6. "The country cannot be broken apart. It is one nation and must remain as one."

Northern leaders emphasized Union unity. Southern leaders were open to secession.

• Northern state leader: •
• Southern state leader: ∘

(Note: In the table, mark "•" for the correct column and "∘" for the incorrect one for each quotation.)

Answer:

To solve this, we analyze each quotation based on the historical perspectives of Northern (federal power, Union unity) and Southern (states' rights, potential secession) leaders in the 1850s:

1. "States have the right to nullify any law they disagree with."

Southern leaders emphasized states’ rights, including nullification. Northern leaders supported federal authority.

• Northern state leader: ∘
• Southern state leader: •

2. "All states help make our laws and all states must follow our laws."

Northern leaders believed in federal authority and uniform law - following. Southern leaders prioritized states’ rights over federal compliance.

• Northern state leader: •
• Southern state leader: ∘

3. "Laws made by the federal government override laws made by states."

This reflects Northern support for federal supremacy. Southern leaders opposed federal laws overriding state laws.

• Northern state leader: •
• Southern state leader: ∘

4. "Congress is acting like a tyrant, telling us what we can and cannot do!"

Southern leaders often viewed federal (Congress) actions as overstepping states’ rights. Northern leaders supported federal authority.

• Northern state leader: ∘
• Southern state leader: •

5. "It was our choice to join the Union, and will be our choice whether to leave it."

Southern leaders argued for states’ right to secede. Northern leaders believed the Union was perpetual.

• Northern state leader: ∘
• Southern state leader: •

6. "The country cannot be broken apart. It is one nation and must remain as one."

Northern leaders emphasized Union unity. Southern leaders were open to secession.

• Northern state leader: •
• Southern state leader: ∘

(Note: In the table, mark "•" for the correct column and "∘" for the incorrect one for each quotation.)