Which historical period was characterized by the principle of states' rights in opposition to increasing national government authority?

The Pre-Civil War Era is primarily characterized by the principle of states' rights in opposition to the increasing authority of the national government. During this time, many southern states strongly advocated for the idea that states should retain significant powers independent of the federal government, particularly regarding issues like slavery and economic policies. This principle played a crucial role in the tensions leading up to the Civil War, as states sought to assert their rights against federal mandates that they believed infringed on their sovereignty.

The concept of states' rights was most pronounced amidst the debates over slavery, as many southern states argued that the federal government did not have the authority to mandate their policies regarding this contentious issue. This ideological stance was rooted in the belief that the Constitution provided states with considerable autonomy and that this autonomy should not be overridden by federal legislation.

In contrast, the other historical periods mentioned, such as the Post-Civil War Era, the New Deal Era, and the Great Society Era, either saw an expansion of federal power in response to national crises or changes in public policy that did not emphasize states' rights in the same way as the Pre-Civil War Era. Thus, the Pre-Civil War Era stands out as the significant period associated with the states' rights principle against a backdrop