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Nullification Crisis 1828-1833

  • tariff of abominations

    This was a protective tariff passed by Andrew Jackson in which imported goods had higher cost in order to promote homeland purchases. The south said this was bad for them because it gave the North more money and the South had to pay more. This caused the South to threaten succession.
  • South Carolina Exposition and protest published

    This document was produced by South Carolina leaders in response to the tariff of abominations stating how it deprived them of their rights. It was secretly made by the vice president John C. Calhoun and looked much like a declaration of independence from the Union.
  • John C. Calhoun resigns

    In this election Jackson does not support Calhoun and he is not selected for vice president. He is called a traitor and is threatened to be treated with the act of treason in South Carolina if they go further with the nullification threats.
  • South Carolina threatens adoption of Ordinance of nullification

    The South Carolina state holds a convention and hold an overwhelming vote that Jackson's tariffs are unconstitutional. They then adopted the Ordinance of nullification under Chancellor William Harper.
  • Jackson attacks South Carolina

    When Jackson found out about this threat he sent militia to Charleston in South Carolina in the form of naval vessels and a war man.
  • Jacksons Proclamation

    Jackson responds with a document stating that the state has no constitutional right to nullify and the reasons why. He reaches out to the people to tell them this is an act of treason and consequences will be dire if they do not help to follow the laws of the national government.
  • Henry Clay passed compromised tariff bill

    Henry Clay composed this bill along with Calhoun to solve the nullification crisis. He proposed year by year reduction in the tariffs and made the southern states calm down until they eventually disregarded these efforts and the civil war was later born.