Final answer:
A person endorsing state's rights in the 19th century U.S. supported a limited federal government and stronger state governance, evident in the defense of localized interests like slavery. These views were fundamental to the disagreements leading to the Civil War, and though resolved militarily, the debate on state's rights persists in modern discourse.
Step-by-step explanation:
A person who supported the idea of state's rights in the United States during the 19th century would likely argue in favor of a limited federal government and stronger state governance. This perspective upholds that states should have the power to make their own decisions, particularly on issues that were contentious during that era, such as slavery. Individuals who favored state's rights, such as John C. Calhoun, often defended their stance by emphasizing the importance of regional concerns and local autonomy against a potentially overpowering federal government.
In the early 19th century, these debates found their roots in the opposition to Federalist policies and the support for the Articles of Confederation, which gave more power to state governments. Prominent historical figures, including Anti-Federalists and Republicans like Thomas Jefferson, advocated for a balance between federal authority and state sovereignty, reflecting a conviction that the Constitution by itself was not enough to safeguard individual and state rights. Despite the peaceable intentions of many leaders who adhered to the principles of state's rights, the underlying disagreement regarding the division of power between the national and state governments, particularly on the issue of slavery, escalated tensions that ultimately led to the Civil War.
At the heart of the state's rights argument was the belief that southern states had the right to secede from the Union if they felt the federal government was infringing upon their rights, as was the case with southern states who aimed to protect their slave-holding systems. Despite the diverse opinions on the subject, the Civil War became the crucible for resolving these conflicts, and in its aftermath, the United States moved towards a more unified federal system, though the debate over state's rights continues in various forms to this day.