Final answer:
The central idea is developed by showing how economic dependency on slavery and the protection of perceived property rights led to sectional divides, which ultimately advanced the country toward the Civil War.
Step-by-step explanation:
The central idea is developed in the two paragraphs by explaining the motivations of slaveholders and showing that their actions would ultimately lead to economic ruin. This is reflected in the way the slave labor was an integral part of the Southern economy, particularly in crop production, and how this economic disparity also created regional ideological differences leading up to the Civil War. Furthermore, the defense of slavery as a property right by the South and the fears of the North that slaveholding interests would corrupt democracy underline the political and economic rift that fostered sectionalism.
The increasing political tensions and arguments over slavery and the role of the federal government are presented as forces that exacerbated sectional divides. The complexity of the issue is showcased through the various perspectives and interests that both Northerners and Southerners brought to the table, including freedom, economic liberty, and property rights as tied to the peculiar institution of slavery.
Ultimately, these forces culminated in a crisis that made conflicts like the Civil War almost inevitable as both sides became increasingly entrenched in their respective positions on slavery, driven by economic incentives and political ideologies stemming from the different interpretations of the American Revolution's legacy.