To remove sectional or regional divisions and promote unity across different areas or groups.
From de- (remove) + sectional (relating to sections or regions) + -ize (make). The word emerged in 19th-century political discourse to describe efforts to overcome regional divisions, particularly in contexts like post-Civil War America.
This word captures a moment in American history when leaders tried to heal the nation by eliminating the 'sectional' thinking—the idea that North and South were fundamentally different—that had divided the country. It's rarely used today because we now talk about 'reconciliation' or 'integration' instead.
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