Final answer:
During the Antebellum Era, competing principles divided American society over the issue of slavery, with the North advocating for abolition and the South defending the institution. These differing viewpoints reflected the North's moral concerns and belief in a slave power conspiracy, while the South relied on slavery for its economy and developed proslavery arguments to protect it.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the Antebellum Era, competing principles divided American society, primarily over the issue of slavery. Northerners and southerners had different viewpoints on slavery and saw their freedom at stake. The North believed in the abolition of slavery on moral grounds and saw a vast slave power conspiracy dominating national politics, while the South relied on slavery for its economy and developed proslavery arguments to defend the institution.