From 1810 to 1815, New England Was the Hotbed of Sectionalism and Nullification, While the South and Southwest Were Strongly Nationalistic. What Accounts for the Switch in Positions in the 1820’s? in This Context Discuss the Webster-Hayne Debates.

The United States in the 1800’s was a country of indecisiveness and the constant change of opinions and views. From 1810 to 1815 the citizens of New England held extremely sectional ideas and some even pondered at the idea of separating from the Nation. This was due to their disapproval of the United States engaging in the War of 1812. During this time the South favored the war and its civilians felt extreme nationalism and pride. However, within five short years, the tables were completely turned. As anit-slavery feelings swept across the United States the South, who depended largely on slave labor began to disagree with the principals of the National Government. The South was also concerned with the rapidly growing of the North and the balance of power between the North and South in congress and the high taxes they were being forced to pay. Now the south was talking about succession of the union while the North felt pride in its nation. The conflicting ideas of the North and South on Nationalism and states rights were reflected in the Webster-Hayne debates. The conversion of civilians views from sectionalism to nationalism in the North and vice-versa in the South resulted from the Federal Government’s attention to major problems that benefited the North and South respectively.

The New England Colonies relied on trade for the basis of their economy. Even though one of the major causes of the War of 1812 was because of British interference with American trade, the New Englanders were still extremely opposed to the war. The Southerners wanted the war and overwhelmingly supported it. They showed their support through feelings of intense nationalism. The trading policies put into effect during the war completely destroyed New England’s economy. New England refused to commit militia to the war, which in turn weakened the American military. This shows how the New Englanders where concerned with what would benefit their region, not the country as a whole. In...