Final answer:
The opposition to federal powers began with the Anti-Federalists' concerns over a strong central government and the lack of a Bill of Rights, evolving into the states' rights debates involving nullification and the interplay with tariffs and slavery.
Step-by-step explanation:
Opposition to certain federal powers has deep roots in American history, originating with the Anti-Federalists who opposed the ratification of the US Constitution due to fears of a strong central government overshadowing state sovereignty. These Anti-Federalists included influential figures like Patrick Henry and were concerned that the Constitution without a Bill of Rights would endanger individual liberties. The concern over federal power continued into the early 19th century when the issue of states' rights became intertwined with other contentious issues such as tariffs and slavery. During this era, the concept of nullification was employed by some states as a means to resist federal laws that were seen as overstepping constitutional bounds, contributing to the growing divides that led up to the Civil War.