How did expanding the national territory increase sectional tensions in the United States?
1 Northern and Southern politicians disagreed as to whether Congress had the authority to determine whether slavery would be allowed in new areas open to settlement.
2 People moving westward to settle had little in common with people in the original states. They also had completely different political concerns, such as transportation.
3 Those living along borders often had greater social and economic connection to the neighboring countries. This complicated trade and land acquisition efforts. 4 Early national leaders promoted western settlement for agriculture, which matched Southern interests, but Northerners wanted to expand manufacturing.