American History 15

sectionalism

loyalty to a region

fugitive

a runaway or trying to run away

secede

to leave or withdraw

abstain

to not take part in some activity such as voting

popular sovereignty

before the civil war, the idea that people living in a territory had the right to decide by voting if slavery would be allowed there

border ruffians

Missourians who traveled in armed groups 6i vote in Kansas's election during the mid 1850s

civil war

conflict between opposing groups of citizens of the same country

arsenal

a storage place for weapons and ammunition

martyr

a person who sacrifices his or her life for a principle or cause

secession

withdrawl from the Union

states rights

rights and powers independent of the federal government that are received for the states by the Constitution; the belief that states' rights supersede federal rights and laws