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The Tariff of Abominations, or Tariffs of 1828, were a strong protective tariff meant to shield northern industry from foreign competition. The south strongly opposed any tariffs at all as they believed it harmed them in exchange for protecting the north. South Carolina, specifically, threatened secession over it, starting the Nullification Crisis.
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The S.C. Exposition and Protest was a document written anonymously by John C. Calhoun that directly opposed the Tariff of Abominations and argued that states should have the right to reject unconstitutional laws passed by the federal government.
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South Carolina, after the Tariffs of 1828, threatened Secession from the Union, deeming the Tariffs to be unenforceable. This soon led to the Ordinance of Nullification. During South Carolina's threat of Secession, the state expected for allies to arise within the states, but was met with total isolation.
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The Webster-Hayne Debate initiated as a discussion about public land policy, but delved into state rights and federal authority. Hayne, being a representative of South Carolina, heavily argued that the states should have the ability to nullify laws that they deem unnecessary or unfair. Webster argued that the federal government should have the utmost authority, with the Constitution being the supreme law of the land. The debate also included discussions about slavery and westward expansion.
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The Ordinance of Nullification, issued by South Carolina, granted the state the ability to deem a Congressional law null and void if it appears unconstitutional. After the passing of it, South Carolina funded into raising an army to enforce its new law.
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The Proclamation to the People of South Carolina was a document written by Andrew Jackson giving his reasons as to why he opposes the Ordinance of Nullification, and how dangerous it could be if South Carolina fully decides to run with it. He mentions a possible civil war and much violence along with it. In the end, he puts the responsibility and his trust in the citizens of the state to correct the misdeeds and guarantee safety.
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Clay's Tariff Bill was a compromise that, year by year, lowered the intensity of the tariffs until they were at the point of the moderate tariffs seen in 1816. This Bill was quickly passed in Congress to avoid any conflict in the states.
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Passed around the same time as Clay's Tariff Bill, the Force Act gave the President authority to use military power to enforce laws if it is deemed completely necessary.
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The Tariff Act of 1832 was the first attempt to reduce the intensity of the Tariffs of 1828 in an effort to appeal to South Carolina before conflict broke out. The Act ultimately failed, and right afterward South Carolina passed the Ordinance of Nullification, further adding tension.