Simone Lawson
The Nullification Crisis of 1832-1833 was a confrontation between South Carolina and the federal government over the former's attempt to declare the Tariffs of 1828 and 1832 null and void within the state. The crisis was sparked by South Carolina's assertion of its right to nullify these federal tariffs, which it perceived as unfairly harming its economy. This led to escalating tensions with the federal government, culminating in a significant confrontation. The crisis was eventually resolved through the Force Bill and the Compromise Tariff Act of 1833, but it highlighted the constitutional issue of states' rights versus federal authority and the interpretation of the Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1832-1833 |
| States | South Carolina |
| Federal Authority | President Andrew Jackson |
| State Rights Proponent | John C. Calhoun |
| Tariffs | 1828, 1832 |
| Legislation | Force Bill, Compromise Tariff Act of 1833 |
| Outcome | Nullification Crisis resolved in favor of federal government |
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What You'll Learn
The Tariff of Abominations
In response to the crisis, President Andrew Jackson issued the Nullification Proclamation in December 1832, asserting the supremacy of federal laws over state laws. The Force Bill was passed by Congress, authorising the use of armed troops to enforce tariff collections. However, a compromise was eventually reached through the Compromise Tariff of 1833, which gradually lowered tariffs over a ten-year period. South Carolina ultimately repealed its Ordinance of Nullification and accepted the compromise.
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The Force Bill
The Tariff of 1828, also known as the Tariff of Abominations, was enacted to protect domestic industries from foreign competition by imposing taxes on imports. This tariff, along with the Tariff of 1832, disproportionately impacted the agricultural economy of the South, particularly South Carolina, by raising the cost of imported goods. In response, South Carolina, led by John C. Calhoun, asserted its right to nullify these federal tariffs, claiming that the Constitution denied Congress the power to pass such tariffs.
The Nullification Crisis escalated when South Carolina passed the Ordinance of Nullification in November 1832, declaring the tariffs of 1828 and 1832 null and void within the state. President Jackson strongly opposed nullification, viewing it as a threat to the Union and equivalent to treason. He responded by issuing the Nullification Proclamation in December 1832, urging South Carolina to rally under the union and warning that "disunion by armed force is treason."
To enforce the tariffs and assert federal authority, Jackson sought to authorize the use of military force. The Force Bill was introduced in Congress and passed by both houses in early 1833. The bill granted Jackson the power to deploy the military to protect customs officials and enforce tariff laws in South Carolina. The possibility of war loomed large, and the people of South Carolina referred to the bill as the "Bloody Bill."
However, war was averted due to the Compromise Tariff of 1833, negotiated by Senators Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and John C. Calhoun. This tariff gradually reduced the tariff rates over ten years, addressing the concerns of South Carolina and diffusing the crisis. On March 15, 1833, South Carolina repealed its Ordinance of Nullification and accepted the Compromise Tariff. While the immediate conflict was resolved, the underlying tensions between states' rights and federal authority persisted, setting the stage for future conflicts and the eventual Civil War.
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The Compromise Tariff Act of 1833
The Tariff of 1833, proposed by Senators Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun, aimed to address the issues that arose during the Nullification Crisis. It was approved by Congress on March 1, 1833, and enacted into law on March 2 by President Andrew Jackson. The Act stipulated a gradual reduction in import taxes over a decade, aiming to reach the levels set in the Tariff of 1816, which averaged 20%. This meant that by 1842, protectionist duties would be significantly lowered.
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State nullification
The Nullification Crisis of 1832-1833 was 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 it was rooted in growing Southern fears over the movement in the North for the abolition of slavery. The Southern states believed that the Tariff of 1828, also known as the Tariff of Abominations, unfairly harmed their economy by raising the cost of imported goods and benefiting the Northern economy. This led them to claim the right to nullify such laws within their borders.
The doctrine of nullification had been advocated by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions of 1798-1799. Jefferson asserted that the union was a compact of sovereign states and that the federal government was their agent with specified, delegated powers. The states, therefore, had the authority to determine when the federal government exceeded its powers and could declare acts to be "void and of no force" within their jurisdictions.
The Nullification Crisis was the first time that friction between state and federal authority created enough tension that it almost led to civil war. Andrew Jackson's leadership in this crisis forestalled succession by nearly 30 years. Jackson, generally in favor of states' rights, saw nullification as a threat to the Union. He believed that the federal government derived its power from the people, not the states, and that federal laws had greater authority than those of individual states. In his view, the power to annul a law of the United States by one state was "incompatible with the existence of the Union".
The crisis was ultimately resolved in favor of the federal government, with South Carolina repealing its Ordinance of Nullification and accepting the Compromise Tariff of 1833, which lowered tariffs gradually over a period of ten years. This helped to undermine the nullification doctrine and asserted the authority of the federal government over states' rights.
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States' rights vs federal authority
The Nullification Crisis of 1832-1833 was 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 it was rooted in growing Southern fears over the movement in the North for the abolition of slavery. The Southern economy was heavily dependent on foreign trade and agriculture, and the Tariff of 1828, also known as the Tariff of Abominations, was seen as unfairly harming their economy by raising the cost of imported goods and benefiting the North.
The crisis began with the passage of the Tariff of 1828, which sought to protect industrial products from foreign imports. The tariff was passed in response to lobbying by northern manufacturers who argued that they needed protection from British competition to expand infant U.S. industries. Southerners resented these tariffs because they raised the cost of imported goods and invited retaliatory tariffs that lowered foreign demand for their agricultural exports.
Led by John C. Calhoun, South Carolina asserted its right to nullify these federal tariffs, leading to tensions with the federal government. Calhoun, who was then the Vice President, wrote the South Carolina Exposition and Protest in 1828, which argued against the Tariff of 1828 and proposed nullification. He interpreted the Constitution as giving individual states the authority to nullify laws they saw as unconstitutional. In his view, the federal government was formed through a compact of the states, and the states retained the authority to determine when the federal government exceeded its powers.
The conflict escalated when the Tariff of 1832 only slightly modified the Tariff of 1828, and South Carolina decided to put Calhoun's nullification theory into practice. In November 1832, the state convention adopted the Ordinance of Nullification, declaring the tariffs of 1828 and 1832 "null, void, and no law, nor binding upon this State, its officers or citizens." The ordinance also forbade appeal to the federal courts and required state officeholders to take an oath of support for the ordinance.
In response, the federal government, under President Andrew Jackson, passed the Force Bill, which allowed the use of military force to ensure federal laws were enforced. Jackson, generally in favor of states' rights, saw nullification as a threat to the Union. He believed that the federal government derived its power from the people, not the states, and that federal laws had greater authority than those of individual states. He stated that "disunion by armed force is treason."
The crisis was eventually resolved through the Force Bill and the Compromise Tariff Act of 1833, which reduced tariffs and restored peace between the state and federal authorities. South Carolina repealed its Ordinance of Nullification and accepted the compromise. This resolution in favor of the federal government helped to undermine the nullification doctrine and asserted the authority of the federal government.
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Frequently asked questions
Nullification is the authority for individual states to nullify federal laws they find unconstitutional within their borders.
The constitutional issue that led to the Nullification Crisis was the declaration of the Tariffs of 1828 and 1832 as unconstitutional by South Carolina.
The tariffs disproportionately harmed South Carolina's economy by raising the cost of imported goods and benefiting the Northern economy.
The crisis was resolved through the Force Bill and the Compromise Tariff Act of 1833, which reduced tariffs and restored peace between the state and federal authorities.
