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This tariff was passed as a protective tariff with dues as high as 50% in order to protect the northern and western agricultural products from foreign imports. This tariff raised cost in the South greatly as they relied on imports. This caused southern anger towards the tariff's and caused them to call it the "Tariff of Abomination" and fear that Great Britain would issue a retaliatory tariff. This is the tariff that led to the Nullification Crisis. -
This document was anonymously written by John Calhoun, the Vice President, which argued for the the states to be able to nullify federal laws that they deemed unconstitutional as the tariff was enacted for other reasons besides raising funds. It was written in response to the Tariff of 1828. It helped lead to the Nullification Crisis and helped to try and promote states rights. -
The Webster-Hayne debates were between Massachusetts Sen. Daniel Webster and South Carolina Sen. Robert Hayne (SC) and were a series of debates on political issues like nullification and states’ rights. Hayne argued states could nullify unconstitutional laws and saw the U.S. as a union of states. Webster argued that power came from the people, only federal courts could judge constitutionality, and that nullification threatened the country with violence and possible civil war. -
The Tariff of 1832 was a bill that was passed to try and make southerners happier with the tariff situation. The tariff decreased the taxes imposed on some of the products that the South used but it was not good enough, which would eventually lead the South Carolina government to pass the Ordinance of Nullification. -
This Ordinance of Nullification produced by the South Carolina government declared that both the Tariff of 1828 and the Tariff of 1832 were null and void within South Carolina's borders. South Carolina argued that the federal government had exceeded its powers with both tariffs and that they were "unauthorized by the Constitution of the United States". The South Carolina government also threatened to defend their stance using violence if necessary, or secede from the Union. -
President Jackson issued this proclamation to refute South Carolina's ordinance nullifying the Tariff of 1828 and 1832, and to respond to their threat of armed resistance and threat of succession. Jackson states in his proclamation that South Carolina declaring a federal law "null and void" is unconstitutional and goes against the structure of the Union. Jackson argues that states resisting to do so such as South Carolina and using armed resistance to avoid doing so is treason that he will end. -
The Tariff of 1833, proposed by Henry Clay and John Calhoun, aimed to end the problems that the South had from the 1828 and 1832 tariffs by gradually lowering rates until 1842, when they would match the Tariff of 1816. It pleased southerners while giving northern industries time to adjust. This along with the help of the Force Bill, South Carolina decided to repeal its Ordinance of Nullification, effectively ending the Nullification Crisis. -
The Force Act was passed in response to South Carolina refusing to enforce and collect the taxes on imported goods that had been imposed by the Tariffs of 1832. This act gave President Jackson the ability to use military force to collect the tariffs and to protect customs officials. This act showed South Carolina that President Jackson was serious about what he said in his proclamation and that he would use force against them if needed. This helped reinforce the federal governments power.
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