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First, States Rights is not a theory, it is within the Constitution. Since the Constitution primarily limited Federal Government powers, all things not specifically granted to Congress fell into the purview of the States. The South also argued that the United States had been formed as a voluntary federation, and that any state was free to leave the USA at any time. The Federal Government at the time had made several laws and tariffs that seemed to serve only to the Northern States advantage. This, with the South's feeling that the Federal Government was over-reaching its legal powers, led to the South deciding that the Government was no longer valid. They formed their own country and their own Constitution based heavily on the US Constitution, though it had more constraints on Federal law.

The same concerns about Federal over-reach are in the news currently.

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Q: What role did the theory of the states rights play in the outbreak of the American civil war?
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What was the theory of states rights in support of secession?

The Theory of States Rights states that the rights of the state supersedes those of the nation, that the state is part of the Union of its own will and may secede from it when it pleased.


How did southerner's justify secession?

They justified secession with the theory of states' rights.


The states rights theory of the constitution holds that states?

In American political discourse, states rights refers to political powers reserved for the state governments rather than the federal government according to the United States Constitution, reflecting especially the enumerated powers of Congress and the Tenth Amendment (Wikipedia.com) DN216 FTW


What State's rights issue was solved by Civil War?

States' Rights is the theory that state and local government's actions and laws in dealing with social and economic problems supersede federal actions and laws. The theory goes back to the founding of our nation. Jefferson and Madison advocated states' rights in the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions. John C. Calhoun's Theory of Nullification, the South's justification for declaring independence from the US, also advocates states' rights. The argument of the States' Rights theory is that the Constitution is a compact between states, not between people. The states created the national government and gave it only limited power. States' Rights supporters believe that the state is closest to the citizen and can better reflect their wishes. This was one of the major causes of the Civil War. The South claimed that the North and West were ignoring the rights and needs of the South, therefore the South had the right to nullify its compact with the other states and declare its independence.


How did social contract theory lead to the American revolution war?

The theory of social contract as viewed by John Locke was invoked into the Declaration of Independence. He believed in inalienable natural rights and that the rule of God supersedes government authority.