In 1819, there were 11 free states in the North and 11 slave states in the South. The era of sectionalism, or tension between people loyal to their section, or region, lasted from the 1810s to the 1860s. During this era, each of these two regions, or sections, had different economies, political views, and ideas about slavery. These differences were the main causes of sectionalism. The effects of sectionalism included political conflicts over issues important to each section, or region.
