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Tariff of Abominations
The Tariff of Abominations was signed into law by John Quincy Adams, hoping to give him more favorability up north for the 1828 election coming up shortly by further shielding developing industry. This act put a Tariff that neared fifty percent on imports such as Iron and other manufactured goods, which was wildly unpopular in the South as they needed these products to farm more efficiently. -
South Carolina Exposition and Protest
John C. Calhoun, Jackson's running mate and fellow South Carolinian, anonymously wrote this essay in late 1828, later showing it to the South Carolina legislature in December of 1828. This essay listed grievances with the Tariff Act of 1828, believing it to be damaging to the Southern economy. One of the main points of emphasis was the belief that the government cannot issue a tariff to protect industry, they must be for raising funds. -
Tariff Act of 1832
This act was passed hastily to appease a furious Southern push, led by South Carolina, against the federal government. The South was angry that their imports were taxed at 50%, so furious that South Carolina considered secession. The extremism in the South scared Jackson into pushing Congress to reduce the import tax, dropping it to a still very high 35%. -
South Carolina Ordinance of Nullification
Calhoun, still the vice president at this time, was leading the push against Jackson's tariffs, believing them to be unconstitutional as they protected the North and put strain on the South. The Ordinance of Nullification said that the states had the right to choose whether or not to follow laws they found unconstitutional, and announced the nullification of the imposed tariffs within their borders. -
The Proclamation to the People of South Carolina
Jackson issued this Proclamation to the citizens of South Carolina, not the government, in the hopes that the people would realize they were being led astray and used as a tool to make the rich man's profits soar. Jackson informed the people that nullification and especially secession were not in their best interests, as nullification is anti-American and secession, especially a violent one, is a direct attack to the union and is treason from citizens or once-citizens of the country. -
Resignation of John C. Calhoun
John Calhoun, the leader of the nullification and secession push within South Carolina, was also Jackson's vice president. After 4 years of tension between the two, Calhoun resigned with a few months left in his vice presidency, having been elected to the South Carolinian senate 16 days prior to his resignation. His resignation set in more fears of secession as he appeared to "jump ship" from the American government. -
Clay Tariff Bill
The Clay Tariff Bill was proposed by Henry Clay, an influential Souther politician who was on the side of South Carolina when it came to the issue of a high tariff but did not agree with their violent fearmongering means of negotiation. Henry Clay proposed and pushed this bill, set to gradually reduce tariffs down to 20%, through Congress as a way to prevent violence and outright treason by the South Carolinian government and citizens. -
Force Act
The Force Act was passed alongside the Clay Tariff Bill, and it gave the president the right to use military force to ensure the execution of Tariffs, forcing an isolated South Carolina into submission. This act also affirmed that nullification is unconstitutional and will not be adhered to, warning South Carolina to stop with the nullification process. The passage of the Force Act alongside the reduction of the Tariff ended the nullification crisis, but the tensions in the South remained.