The period in the United States before the Civil War (especially in the South).

When people care more about their region (North, South, or West) than the whole country.

A tax on imported goods (products brought in from other countries).

A tariff made to protect United States factories by making foreign goods cost more.

The idea that a state can ignore (“nullify”) a federal law it thinks is unfair.

The belief that states should have more power than the federal government in certain areas.

A South Carolina leader and United States  Vice President who strongly supported slavery and states’ rights.

 A law that allowed people in new territories to vote on whether to allow slavery.

A Supreme Court ruling that said enslaved people were property, not citizens, and that Congress could not stop slavery from spreading.

An agreement in 1820 that allowed Missouri to be a slave state and Maine to be a free state, keeping balance in Congress.

A movement of people who wanted to end slavery in the United States.

 Tension or arguments between different parts of the country.