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The Tariff of Abominations
Andrew Jackson's 1828 Tariff of Abominations, which aimed to protect northern and western states' industry growth, imposed duties on imported goods. However, the South's higher living costs led to the nullification crisis. The Tariff of Abominations was a significant test of the US Constitution and the relationship between the federal government and the states. -
South Carolina Exposition and Protest
The South Carolina Exposition and Protest, written by Vice President John C. Calhoun, aimed to nullify federal laws in response to the Tariff of 1828, eventually leading to the Ordinance of Nullification. The significance is that it initiated the states' rights movement, leading to the Civil War and highlighting the ongoing debate between states' rights and federal power. -
Hayne- Webster Debate
The South Carolina Exposition and Protest, written by Vice President John C. Calhoun, aimed to nullify federal laws in response to the Tariff of 1828, eventually leading to the Ordinance of Nullification. The significance of this event is that it sparked a significant debate on states' rights and federal power in American politics, sparked by South Carolina Senator Robert Hayne's defense of nullification. -
The Tariff of 1832
The Tariff of 1832 was a protective tariff aimed at protecting American industries from foreign competition. However, it was criticized in the South for favoring Northern interests and creating economic hardship for Southern farmers. The nullification crisis led to a compromise tariff in 1833. -
Ordinance of Nullification
South Carolina passed the Ordinance of Nullification, declaring tariffs unconstitutional and null and void, threatening to secede from the Union. This led to debates on state rights and President Andrew Jackson's response. The significance of this is that it challenged federal supremacy, allowing states to declare laws unconstitutional. The Force Bill of 1833 nullified the ordinance, allowing military enforcement. -
Proclamation to the People of South Carolina
President Abraham Lincoln issued the Proclamation to the People of South Carolina, which declared the union legally and constitutionally unbreakable, prohibiting any attempt to split. This signified the start of the American Civil War and established an example for other states to follow. It also showed President Lincoln's readiness to employ military action to keep the union together. -
Force Bill
The Force Bill, signed alongside the Compromise Tariff of 1833, granted the president the power to enforce tariffs with military assistance, demonstrating South Carolina's resilience. This is significant because it granted President Andrew Jackson military power to enforce federal law and collect tariffs in South Carolina during the Nullification Crisis, preserving US unity and strengthening federal government power. -
Compromise Tariff of 1833
Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun proposed a compromise to conquer the nullification fight, reducing tariffs to 1816 levels by 1842. Accepted by both sides, it was signed alongside the Force Bill. This is significant because it resolved a tariff dispute between Southern and Northern states, reducing tariffs over ten years. It satisfied southern states against high tariffs, while northern states agreed to protect their manufacturing industries, preserving the Union and preventing sectionalism. -
South Carolina's Repeal on Nullification
Following the Force Bill and Compromise Tariff, the South Carolina Convention abolished the Nullification Ordinance. The Nullification Crisis ended when state leaders agreed to cut tariff rates. This predicted disagreements between the North and South, which led to division and the Civil War. This was significant because The repeal of nullification in South Carolina avoided a possible crisis that may have resulted in the state's separation from the United States.