Final answer:
The problem of the film "The Dilemma of the Networks" is a historical reference to the Nullification Crisis where the southern states threatened to nullify federal laws. The crisis relates to issues such as states' rights vs. federal authority, economic struggles in the South, and the sectional divide over slavery.
Step-by-step explanation:
The problem of the film "The Dilemma of the Networks" refers to the underlying historical issue of why the southern states were threatening to nullify federal laws. This is a reference to the Nullification Crisis of the early 1830s, a period of intense conflict between the federal government and the state of South Carolina, which declared that the federal Tariffs of 1828 and 1832 were unconstitutional and, therefore, void within state borders. The crisis highlighted several major issues of the time such as the tension between states' rights and federal authority, the economic struggles of southern states due to the falling prices of cotton alongside high tariffs, and the growing sectional divide over the issue of slavery.
The film's discussion of the dilemma does not center on technical aspects like special effects, casting choices, or budget constraints, but rather on historical and political issues. It serves as an exploration of historical conflicts and their impact on the state of the nation, reflecting themes like minority rights, economic challenges, and the federal exercise of power which are central to the narrative of American democracy in the 19th century.