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Tariff of 1828
The Tariff of 1828 raised tax rates on manufactured goods by 50%, for the first time it targeted items frequently imported in industrial states in New England. -
South Carolina Exposition and Protest
The Tariff of 1828 created political uproar in the southern United States, they believed this tariff was made to benefit manufacturers at the expense of all other citizens. This uproar led to the South Carolina Exposition and Protest written by John Calhoun, a direct response to the tariff, which the south believed could be used to nullify any law they didn't agree with. (it was allegedly unconstitutional since it was a protective tariff and not a revenue tariff which was not an expressed power) -
Tariff of 1832
In 1832, in an attempt to please the south who were still angry about the Tariff of 1828 a new lower tariff was put in place. This was meant to replace the previous tariff as it was less harsh but they did not want to remove the tariffs altogether as they were helping pay off the federal debt. This tariff had the same principle of protection as the one before, so the south still opposed it. -
Ordinance of Nullification
In the 1832 South Carolina state elections the nullifiers won and called together a constitutional convention. During this convention, they passed the Ordinance of Nullification declaring both the Tariffs of 1828 and 1832 null and void. This meant they would not apply in the state of South Carolina as of February 1st, 1833. -
Jackson's Proclamation Against Nullification
In this proclamation, willing to risk a civil war Jackson declared nullification illegal and declared that the Union was indissoluble despite the still ongoing conflict with the south. He enacted martial law using the Force Act as a result. -
Hayne's Counter Proclamation
In this proclamation, Haynes attempted to nullify the force act as a counter to Jackson's proclamation which made nullification illegal. This was a final act of defiance of the tariffs and the government, they became a strong advocate for state rights now concerned about the future of the legality of slavery while still suffering economic grievances. -
Force Act
The Force Act approved by congress enacted martial law in order to handle any uproar that occurred as a result of Jackson declaring nullification illegal in his prior proclamation. He threatened to hang those who resisted the law and sent muskets and ships to Charleston harbor to control the rising conflict. -
Repeal of Nullification Ordinance
After more lowering of the tariffs and the enacting of martial law, South Carolina repealed the Nullification Ordinance but then "nullified" the Force Act as a final act of defiance of the federal government.