Which concept did the Southern states cite as their justification for secession and slavery by claiming that certain powers should be reserved to states?

Which concept did the Southern states cite as their justification for secession and slavery by claiming that certain powers should be reserved to states?

• A. Popular sovereignty
• B. Federalism
• C. States' rights
• D. Nullification

Answer: (C)

States' rights is the belief that certain powers should belong to the states rather than the national government. Southern states argued that the Constitution reserved specific powers to states, and they used this idea to defend slavery and justify leaving the Union. They claimed that decisions about slavery and about whether the federal government could regulate or restrict it belonged to states, not to the federal government. This focus on preserving state sovereignty is what makes states' rights the most fitting explanation. For context, popular sovereignty centers on residents of a territory deciding on slavery there, which isn’t the same as asserting state authority to govern overall. Nullification is the idea that a state can invalidate federal laws within its borders, not necessarily about secession. Federalism describes the division of powers but isn’t itself the justification for secession.

States' rights is the belief that certain powers should belong to the states rather than the national government. Southern states argued that the Constitution reserved specific powers to states, and they used this idea to defend slavery and justify leaving the Union. They claimed that decisions about slavery and about whether the federal government could regulate or restrict it belonged to states, not to the federal government. This focus on preserving state sovereignty is what makes states' rights the most fitting explanation.

For context, popular sovereignty centers on residents of a territory deciding on slavery there, which isn’t the same as asserting state authority to govern overall. Nullification is the idea that a state can invalidate federal laws within its borders, not necessarily about secession. Federalism describes the division of powers but isn’t itself the justification for secession.