5. What is the main contributing factor to sectionalism? a. Slavery b. The Conscription Act c. Relations with Mexico d. Sovereignty

The correct answer is: **a. Slavery** **Explanation:** Sectionalism in the United States refers to the divisions and conflicting interests between different regions, primarily the North and the South. The most significant contributing factor to this division was **slavery**. - **Slavery**: The Southern economy was heavily reliant on agriculture, particularly cotton, which depended on slave labor. In contrast, the Northern states were more industrialized and increasingly opposed the expansion of slavery into new territories and states. This fundamental disagreement over the morality, economics, and legality of slavery led to intense regional tensions. - **The Conscription Act**: While this was a point of contention during the Civil War, it wasn't the primary cause of sectionalism. - **Relations with Mexico**: Issues like the annexation of Texas and the Mexican-American War did exacerbate sectional tensions, especially regarding the expansion of slavery into new territories, but slavery itself remained the central issue. - **Sovereignty**: States' rights and the question of how much power states had versus the federal government were important, but again, these debates were deeply intertwined with the issue of slavery. In summary, slavery was the main driving force behind sectionalism, leading to political conflicts and ultimately the Civil War.