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1828 Tariff/Tariff of Abominations
The tariff of 1828 was passed to protect the agricultural goods of the northern and western states from foreign competition. The country had been struggling financially, and House, who passed the tariff, hoped that the law would aid the nation. While the tariff helped the North and West, it raised the cost of living in the South. This angered the southern states. -
South Carolina Exposition and Protest
In response to the Tariff of Abominations, The South Carolina Exposition and Protest was penned and published anonymously by then vice president-elect John Calhoun. It discussed the unfairness and dangers brought on by the tariff, and Calhoun claims that state conventions have the power to deem a federal law or act unconstitutional. The state of South Carolina printed and distributed thousands of copies of Calhoun’s work, spreading the idea of the state’s power to its citizens. -
Hayne/Webster Debates
Nationalism and Federal government over states. Webster argues that the federal government has rights over the states, while Hayne argues that the states have rights over the government. -
Tariff of 1832
After the placement of the Tariff of Abominations, tensions between the federal government and the state of South Carolina continued to rise. In an attempt to appease the southern states, the government passed the Tariff of 1832. This tariff lowered or erased some of the taxes placed in the Tariff of 1828. While the new tariff was placed to please southerners, many did not believe that it did enough. -
Ordinance of Nullification
Even after the Tariff of 1832, the people of South Carolina were still unhappy. Using the power of the state to overturn unjust federal laws as stated in The South Carolina Exposition and Protest, the government of South Carolina declared the Tariffs of 1828 and 1832 to be constitutional, and therefore null and void. This meant that the effect of the tariffs would not be recognized or put into effect within state boundaries. -
Jackson’s Proclamation to the People of South Carolina
Andrew Jackson’s Proclamation to the People of South Carolina was written as a response to the Ordinance of Nullification. In his proclamation, he declared that nullification was unconstitutional, and went against the idea of the United States as a Union. He informed the people of the South that he would use any and all of his Presidential power to uphold the legislation of the United States, and warned them of the consequence that committing an armed insurrection would cause. -
Forest Bill/Act
Extends the power of the government to use the army to enforce the law. -
Compromise Tariff of 1833
Henry Clay proposed a compromise tariff to get the South to repeal the nullification. -
South Carolina Repeal of Nullification
As South Carolina began to prepare forces to resist government enforcement of the tariffs, Congress took action. They passed the Force Bill, which would give President Andrew Jackson the power to use military forces to uphold the tariffs. Additionally, a new tariff was created: The Compromise Tariff of 1833. The South Carolina government saw this new tariff as satisfactory and repealed the Ordinance of Nullification. This marked the end of the Nullification Crisis, but only delayed a civil war.