Final answer:
Sectional interests divided the nation during the years leading up to the Civil War, overshadowing party politics, ultimately resulting in the succession of Southern states and the onset of the Civil War with the election of Abraham Lincoln.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct option is B:
In the years leading up to the Civil War, sectionalism did indeed trump party politics as sectional interests deeply divided the nation. Therefore, the correct answer to how sectionalism impacted party politics in the prelude to the Civil War is (b) Sectional interests divided the nation.
Sectional divisions in the United States intensified over debates surrounding the Missouri Compromise in 1821 and continued to grow as the nation expanded westward. Tensions were further exacerbated by events such as the Mexican-American War, the Dred Scott decision, and John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry. These conflicts underscored the widening rift over slavery between the North and the South.
The rise of the Republican Party in the mid-1850s, with its platform against the expansion of slavery, marked a pivotal point. The election of Abraham Lincoln as president in 1860, representing this party, was seen as a threat by Southern states, leading to the succession of seven Deep South states and the eventual onset of the Civil War. In summary, sectionalism overrode the common ground within political parties, bringing the nation to the brink of war.