text: help....... essay questions..... kinda hard..... history? okay so im in the 8th grade and i have 4 essay questions i have to answers.... anyways this one im having trouble with... please help.... this is about american history.   trace the rise of sectionalism im america from the colonization through the civil war. be sure to include geographic, economic, and cutlural factors that contributed to the differences between the north and south. here is a start for you to begin your research:  what issues created the sectional conflict?  1. slavery - first and foremost the most important difference between the north and south was slavery. for the most part most northerners really didn't care about slavery in the beginning but as time went on slavery, the existence of it as well as the extension of slavery into the wetern territories, became the central issue.  2. representation - the north and south each wanted power to pass laws that would benefit theri section. this meant that the more states that became "free" or "slave" meant more votes, both in the house, senate and electoral college, for that section. the issue of repreenation is played out as we expand westward and decisions must be made about each state.  3. tariffs - the south resented all tariffs as they relied on british imports for more of their everyday goods. they also needed other nations to purchase cotton form their farms. as the north supported tariffs to protect their growing industries the south became incressingly angered. thsi tension eventually led to the passage of what south carolina called "the tariff of abominations." the south then argued they had the right of nullification. (nullification - the power of a state to declare a federal law null and void.)  4. states rights - this issue is a direct outgrowth of the south's fear that the north would pass laws that would hurt it's lifestyle. some examples would be tariffs and laws to restrict or abolish slavery. the south again claimed they had the right of nullification.  the sites below should answer all of your questions~good luck!