Sources of Sectionalism

US History – Politics and Regional Interests, 1800-48

In this course, Professor John Pinheiro (Aquinas College) explains how different regional interests affected debates about the role of the federal government in the Early Republic. In the first module, we take a look at the different sources of sectionalism within the Early Republic. After this, we explore the fundamental tension at the heart of sectionalism in the United States - the tension between agricultural interests and industrial interests. We then explore the Market Revolution - what this was and how it transformed political debate. From then, we take a look at Henry Clay's American System and how this played out in different parts of the country. In the penultimate module, we examine the various compromises made over slavery in the period. And finally, we examine the disputes over the role of the federal government in this period.

Sources of Sectionalism

In this module, we take a look at the different sources of sectionalism within the Early Republic. To do this, we will cover the following areas: (i) the vastness of the United States and its expanding territories; (ii) the United States' political system; and (iii) the sections of the United States.