The Secession of the American South During the Civil War

The secession of the American South during the Civil War was based on an understanding of American federalism in which the

A) national government had supreme decision-making authority.
B) state governments had supreme decision-making authority.
C) national government and the states were co-equal branches of government.
D) president exercised ultimate decision-making authority.
E) Congress exercised supreme decision-making authority.