Nullification Crisis

  • tariff of Abominations

    The Tariff of Abominations, sometimes referred to as the Tariff of 1828, was a contentious law that imposed high import charges on foreign goods in an effort to safeguard American industry. The Nullification Crisis and the resulting Compromise Tariff of 1833, which shaped the antebellum era in American history, were exacerbated by it, and it also contributed to regional tensions.
  • Webster-Hayne Debate

    The 1830 Webster-Hayne Debate marked a significant shift in American politics, revealing divisions between the North and South over states' rights, nullification, and federal authority. South Carolina proposed the Compromise Tariff of 1833 to address these issues, increasing sectional tensions and impacting presidential politics, while exposing North's concerns over federal expansion.
  • Tariff of 1832

    The Tariff of 1832 was a US tariff law aimed at resolving the Tariff of 1828 controversy, which imposed high protective duties on imported goods, affecting Southern states. However, it did not fully satisfy Southern demands, leading to the Nullification Crisis. President Jackson proposed the Compromise Tariff of 1833 for gradual tariff rate reduction.
  • South Carolina Ordinance of Nullification

    The South Carolina Ordinance of Nullification of November 1832, triggered by the Tariff of 1828 controversy, declared federal tariffs null and void in South Carolina, leading to a constitutional crisis and the Nullification Crisis. President Andrew Jackson opposed nullification, and the Compromise Tariff of 1833 eventually eased the crisis, foreshadowing the American Civil War.
  • President Jackson's Proclamation

    In 1832, President Andrew Jackson's Proclamation addressed the Nullification Crisis in South Carolina, addressing federal authority, states' rights, and federal authority. It affirmed federal authority, warned against disunion, advocated for the Force Bill, and called for negotiation. This led to the Compromise Tariff of 1833.
  • Force Bill

    During the Nullification Crisis, the Force Bill of 1833, a key piece of legislation intended to protect federal power and preserve the Union, was passed. It gave President Andrew Jackson the power to enforce federal laws with military action in South Carolina, preventing nullification and fostering peaceful settlement. The Act was followed by discussions and compromises that resulted in the Compromise Tariff of 1833, which guaranteed the Union's survival.
  • Compromise Tariff

    Henry Clay's Compromise Tariff of 1833 played a significant role in the pacific ending of the Nullification Crisis. It reduced sectional tensions, answered Southern complaints about high tariffs, and helped keep the Union together. The larger difficulties that sparked the Civil War, which would happen decades later, were not entirely resolved, though.
  • South Carolina Repeal of Nullification

    The South Carolina Convention revoked its Ordinance of Nullification on March 11, 1833, making the federal tariffs of 1828 and 1832 invalid across the state. The Force Bill, which permitted military force to execute federal laws, was also repealed by the convention. The Nullification Crisis came to a conclusion at this point, and the state formally accepted the 1833 Compromise Tariff.