An exaggerated concern for local or regional interests as opposed to the interests of the whole.

• A. Senate
• B. Rule
• C. Sectionalism
• D. Scale

Answer: (C)

Sectionalism focuses on an exaggerated regional interest over the national good. It shows up when people or leaders push policies that benefit their own region at the expense of others, shaping political choices and fueling tensions within a country. In U.S. history, sectionalism helped drive debates over issues like tariffs, internal improvements, and the spread of slavery, often pulling the nation in competing directions. The other options don’t fit this idea: a Senate is a legislative body representing states, a rule is simply a guideline for behavior, and scale refers to size or measurement. Sectionalism is the best description of prioritizing regional interests over the whole.