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Tariff of 1828 (Tariff of Abominations)
In order to promote American industries, Congress passed an act placing an extremely high protective tariff on imported goods. This tariff was very popular in the North and West but was highly criticized by farmers in the South as they largely depended on imports from Britain. President Quincy Adams passed it despite this, thus allowing for Andrew Jackson to win the election that same year. -
South Carolina Exposition and Protest (Calhoun's Exposition)
In response to the Tariff of 1828, Vice President John C. Calhoun anonymously published the South Carolina Exposition and Protest, criticizing the extremely high tariff and arguing for the rights of the states to nullify and determine the constitutionality of federal laws. While South Carolina at the time would not adopt the ideas of Calhoun's Exposition, it would later play a part in their decision to pass an Ordinance that would nullify the tariffs with the threat of secession behind it. -
Senator Daniel Webster's Speech (1830)
Over the sale of land, a debate occured in the Senate between Daniel Webster and Robert Hayne heavily influenced by the present tensions between the North and the South. In this, Daniel Webster delivered the most famous Senate speech, as he stated that the United States was the whole of the people, not the separation of states. If the states disagree with a federal act, they can not handle it through nullification. This speech contributed to the conversation of states nullifying federal acts. -
Tariff of 1832
In response to the Southern outrage against the Tariff of 1828, concentrated specifically in South Carolina, Congress passed the Tariff of 1832, which slightly lowered the previous duty. Now that the national debt was paid off, the country could afford to lower it. However, this was not enough to satisfy those still critical of the tariffs, or the people of South Carolina. -
South Carolina Ordinance of Nullification
In protest of both tariff acts, South Carolina held a convention in which they adopted the Ordinance of Nullification. This declared both acts, the Tariff of 1828 and the Tariff of 1832, to be null and unconstitutional, and that any attempts to collect the tax within the state will be met with state forces and the threat of secession. Plans to set up a state army was also enacted. This was the first time in the country's history that a state actually attempted to nullify a federal law. -
Jackson's Proclamation to the People of South Carolina
Jackson responded to South Carolina's Ordinance of Nullification by declaring it illegal and sending out military forces, stating that the state is treading line of treason and that he is willing to protect the Union through forceful means. He called out to the people to not obey the ordinance of nullification, warning of the dangers they secede. Despite the threat, South Carolina did not back down, standing by the state rights they believed they had not only to nullify acts but also to secede. -
The Compromise Tariff of 1833
Under the threat of force by the federal government and with no one on their side, South Carolina eventually settled to retreat from the ordinance. With the help of Henry Clay, Congress passed the Compromise Tariff of 1833, reducing the duty of the tariff by 20% per year, satisfying South Carolina. This compromise tariff would end the Nullification Crisis but in the long run, it played a part in furthering tensions between the South and North and in the South's secession years later. -
Force Bill
As the deadline of South Carolina's Ordinance of Nullification grew closer, Andrew Jackson requested Congress to pass the Force Bill which gave him the authority to use military forces in executing federal law. This gave him the proper backing in his threat of using aggressive means to combat the state's defiance. The bill ultimately pushed South Carolina to retreat from the Ordinance of Nullification and seceding, and balanced out the Compromise Tariff that was being settled at the same time.