sectionalism is basically a devotion to the interests of one geographic region over the interests of the country as a whole. it was one of the primary factors that contributed to the build up of the civil war. an example of sectionalism today would be the current "contrasts" between the stereotypes of the north and south united states today. northerners view people from the south as poor, uneducated, county-bumpkins while the southerners view the north as stuck up, pompous, and obnoxious.