Omar Bennett
The Nullification Crisis of 1832 was a constitutional crisis that arose when South Carolina threatened to secede from the Union if the federal government attempted to enforce the Tariffs of 1828 and 1832. The crisis was a confrontation between the state of South Carolina and the federal government, during the presidency of Andrew Jackson. South Carolina declared the tariffs unconstitutional and null and void within the state's boundaries, arguing that the Constitution gave states the right to block the enforcement of federal laws. This led to a debate over the power of the Constitution over the states and resulted in the passage of the Force Bill in 1833, which authorized the use of military force to enforce federal law.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1832-1833 |
| Location | South Carolina, United States |
| Key Figures | Andrew Jackson, John C. Calhoun, Robert Hayne, Hamilton |
| Key Events | South Carolina declared federal Tariffs of 1828 and 1832 unconstitutional, leading to a crisis with the federal government; South Carolina threatened to secede if tariffs were enforced; Jackson asserted federal supremacy and threatened military action; South Carolina adopted the Ordinance of Nullification, declaring tariffs null and void |
| Underlying Issues | Southern states opposed tariffs, perceiving them as an unfair tax burden; growing Southern fears over the movement in the North for the abolition of slavery |
| Outcome | Jackson found a middle ground between localists and nationalists, lowering import tariffs while upholding federal authority; South Carolina's threats of secession were not carried out |
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What You'll Learn
South Carolina's refusal to collect federal tariffs
The Nullification Crisis of 1832 was a sectional political crisis in the United States, which involved a confrontation between the state of South Carolina and the federal government. The crisis was ostensibly about South Carolina's refusal to collect federal tariffs, but historians believe it was rooted in Southern fears of the growing movement in the North for the abolition of slavery.
In December 1828, the state legislature issued the South Carolina Exposition and Protest, which declared the tariff of 1828 unconstitutional. The Tariff of 1832 only slightly modified the Tariff of 1828, so the South Carolina legislature decided to put Calhoun's nullification theory to the test. On November 24, 1832, South Carolina adopted the Ordinance of Nullification, declaring the tariffs of 1828 and 1832 null, void, and nonbinding in the state.
In response, U.S. President Andrew Jackson issued a proclamation asserting the supremacy of the federal government. He declared that states did not have the right of nullification, and in 1833, Congress passed the Force Bill, authorizing the use of military force to enforce the tariffs. South Carolina threatened to secede from the union if the federal government attempted to enforce the tariffs, to which Jackson replied that "disunion by armed force is treason." An armed confrontation was avoided when Congress revised the tariff with a compromise bill, allowing South Carolina to back down without "losing face."
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Southern fears over abolition of slavery
The Nullification Crisis was a political crisis in the United States in 1832-33, during the presidency of Andrew Jackson. It involved a confrontation between the state of South Carolina and the federal government. The crisis was ostensibly about South Carolina's refusal to collect federal tariffs, but historians believe it was rooted in Southern fears over the growing movement in the North for the abolition of slavery.
Southerners, particularly planters, were dependent on European trade and were concerned about the negative impact of high tariffs on their ability to buy and sell goods. The Tariff of 1828, also known as the "tariff of abominations", was enacted into law during the presidency of John Quincy Adams. It was strongly opposed in the South, as it was seen as an unfair tax burden on the Southern agrarian states that imported most manufactured goods. The tariff's opponents expected that Jackson's election as president would result in its significant reduction. However, when the Jackson administration failed to address their concerns, South Carolina's radical faction began to advocate for the state to nullify the tariff.
In December 1828, the state legislature issued the South Carolina Exposition and Protest, secretly drafted by Vice President John C. Calhoun, which declared the tariff unconstitutional and furthered the nullification doctrine. Calhoun argued that state "interposition" could block the enforcement of a federal law, and that the state would be obliged to obey only if the law were made an amendment to the Constitution by three-fourths of the states. The Tariff of 1832, which only slightly modified the Tariff of 1828, led the South Carolina legislature to put Calhoun's nullification theory into practice.
In November 1832, the Nullification Convention met and declared the tariffs of 1828 and 1832 unconstitutional and unenforceable within the state of South Carolina. South Carolina threatened to secede from the union if the federal government attempted to enforce the tariffs by force. President Jackson, a slaveowner with Southern loyalties and a proponent of states' rights, responded by asserting the supremacy of the federal government and declaring that states did not have the right of nullification.
The Nullification Crisis laid the ideological and political groundwork for the secession of Southern states three decades later. It highlighted the sectional differences and the inability to find a long-term compromise over the issue of slavery and its expansion, which eventually erupted into the American Civil War. The crisis also brought to the fore the question of states' rights and the extent of sovereignty retained by individual states vis-a-vis the national government. While Southerners feared the abolition of slavery, the crisis ultimately demonstrated the fragility of the union and the need for a strong federal government to resolve disputes and maintain national unity.
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The Tariff of 1828
The opposition to the tariff in the South was voiced through Southern newspapers and town meetings. On December 19, 1828, the South Carolina legislature issued the "South Carolina Exposition and Protest", secretly drafted by Vice President John C. Calhoun. The pamphlet articulated the doctrine of nullification, emphasizing the state's right to reject federal laws within its borders and questioning the constitutionality of taxing imports without the explicit goal of raising revenue. Calhoun's reasoning would later be used by the South Carolina legislature to nullify the Tariff of 1832.
In November 1832, South Carolina adopted the Ordinance of Nullification, declaring the Tariffs of 1828 and 1832 unconstitutional and unenforceable within the state. This led to the Nullification Crisis, a sectional political crisis in the United States in 1832 and 1833, during Jackson's presidency. The crisis involved a confrontation between South Carolina and the federal government, with South Carolina threatening to secede from the union if the federal government attempted to enforce the tariffs.
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The Ordinance of Nullification
The Nullification Crisis was a sectional political crisis in the United States in 1832 and 1833, during the presidency of Andrew Jackson. It involved a confrontation between the state of South Carolina and the federal government. The crisis was driven by South Carolina politician John C. Calhoun, who opposed the federal imposition of the tariffs of 1828 and 1832. Calhoun argued that the U.S. Constitution gave states the right to block the enforcement of a federal law.
In November 1832, South Carolina adopted the Ordinance of Nullification, declaring the tariffs null, void, and nonbinding in the state. The ordinance stated that the tariffs of 1828 and 1832 were "null, void, and no law, nor binding upon this State, its officers or citizens." It also forbade any appeals of ordinance measures to the federal courts and required all state officeholders (except members of the legislature) to take an oath of support for the ordinance. The ordinance further threatened secession if the federal government tried to collect tariff duties by force.
The protest that led to the Ordinance of Nullification was caused by the belief that the tariffs of 1828 and 1832 favoured the North over the South and therefore violated the Constitution. This belief was based on the argument that the tariffs put an unfair tax burden on the Southern agrarian states that imported most manufactured goods. The nullification crisis highlighted the ongoing debate over state sovereignty and the authority of the federal government, and it set the stage for further conflict between the North and the South in the lead-up to the American Civil War.
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President Andrew Jackson's response
The Nullification Crisis of 1832 was a confrontation between the state of South Carolina and the federal government of the United States, during the presidency of Andrew Jackson. It ensued after South Carolina declared the federal Tariffs of 1828 and 1832 unconstitutional and, therefore, null and void within the state.
Public Refutation of Nullification:
Jackson publicly refuted all arguments in favor of nullification. He made it clear that he considered nullification a threat to the Union and would not tolerate any attempts to dissolve it. At a dinner honoring Thomas Jefferson's birthday in April 1830, Jackson made a simple but powerful toast: "Our Union, It Must be Preserved."
Nullification Proclamation:
On December 10, 1832, Jackson issued the Nullification Proclamation, outlining his position on the crisis. In it, he asserted the supremacy of federal law over state law and declared that states did not have the right of nullification. He stated that disunion by armed force is treason.
Threat of Military Force:
Jackson took a hardline stance, threatening to use military force against South Carolina if it did not comply with federal law. He submitted a Force Bill to Congress, authorizing the use of federal troops in South Carolina to collect tariff duties if necessary. This determination to employ military force ultimately forced South Carolina to retreat from its nullification stance.
Compromise Tariff:
While Jackson firmly opposed nullification, he did propose a compromise to reduce overall tariffs to 28%. This attempt at a compromise did not satisfy the nullifiers in South Carolina, but it received support from many Northerners and some Southerners in Congress.
Congressional Action:
In March 1833, Congress passed the Force Bill, authorizing the use of force to enforce tariff collection in South Carolina. Additionally, with the help of Senator Henry Clay, a moderate tariff bill more acceptable to South Carolina was also passed. In response, South Carolina rescinded the Ordinance of Nullification, but it maintained its defiance by nullifying the Force Bill.
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Frequently asked questions
The Nullification Crisis was a political crisis in the United States, during which the state of South Carolina threatened to secede from the Union if the federal government attempted to enforce the Tariffs of 1828 and 1832.
The Tariff of 1828, also known as the "Tariff of Abominations", was a highly controversial law that imposed taxes on imports. It was enacted to protect domestic industries from foreign competition. The Tariff of 1832 modified the previous tariff, lowering the rates but maintaining a highly protectionist stance.
South Carolina, along with other Southern states, perceived the tariffs as an unfair burden, as they imported most manufactured goods and would have to pay higher taxes. Additionally, there were growing Southern fears over the movement in the North for the abolition of slavery.
The crisis led to a debate over the power of the Constitution and states' rights. President Andrew Jackson strongly opposed nullification and asserted the supremacy of the federal government. He declared that South Carolina's actions were unconstitutional and treasonous. In 1833, Congress passed the Force Bill, authorizing the use of military force to enforce the tariffs.
