Norma, The Issue of States Rights was a bone of contention from the very formation of the American Government. In the 1830's John C. Calhoun spoke eloquently on this subject. There was never any agreement between the various states on the issue of States Rights. The War did not solve the debate although you don't hear too much about it since the 1950's. When the Southern states seceded, their position was that they had freely entered into an agreement to unite with other states to form the government and it was their right to freely leave that organization. The opposition said no. Once the states had formed one government, that government should last in perpetuity and that no state or states were free to leave. I'm sure one of the scholars here can give you a much better description but that's it in a nutshell. Belle