Nullification Crisis - Jordan Watkins

Tariff of 1828

1828

The Tariff of 1828, also known as the Tariff of Abominations, was an extremely high protective tariff. It gave a 50% increase in price to imports, which would obviously protect American businesses. The bill was pushed for heavily by the North, but the South despised it, as it would harm their farming industry, and their source of manufactured goods had a price inflation of up to 1.5x their initial price.

South Carolina Exposition and Protest

Dec 19, 1828

The South Carolina Exposition and Protest was a document issued by the state's legislature on December 19, 1828. The document was also secretly drafted by Calhoun, the vice president at the time. The document essentially called the Tariff of 1828 "unconstitutional," outlining the state's problems with the tariff, pushing forward the idea of states nullifying decisions of the federal government.

Tariff of 1832

Jul 13, 1832

The Tariff of 1832 was a way to kind of remedy the tariff of 1828, while still protecting the American industry in the north. However, this would not do that, as it boosted sales of cloth in the north, and killed demand for raw cotton in the south. This failed remedy would push South Carolina to make the Ordinance of Nullification.

Ordinance of Nullification.

Nov 24, 1832

Made due to the Tariffs of 1828 and 1832, the Ordinance of Nullification was passed in South Carolina, declaring the tariffs null and void. It also forbade the appeal of the ordinance to courts, and forced all officeholders in the state to swear oath to it, except for legislatures. The state also threatened secession from the union once more if the federal government tried to do anything about the ordinance. Alongside this, Calhoun resigned from office to support the state.

Jackson's Proclamation to the People of South Carolina.

Dec 10, 1832

On December 10 of 1832, Jackson gave his response to the Ordinance of Nullification that was enacted just 16 days prior. Jackson further pushed the weight of the federal government over the state government, arguing they could not put their laws over the laws of the federal government. He also reminded them that if South Carolina seceded from the nation, specifically with armed force, that is was an act of treason against the nation. Jackson was dead set on sending military to the state as well.

Force Bill

Mar 1, 1833

After being pressured by Jackson to pass a bill allowing him to put troops in South Carolina to deal with the Ordinance, Congress passed the Force Bill. The Force Bill gave him the power to use military force to collect the owed money from the tariffs if the state refused to comply. This determination to get military in South Carolina, coupled with a lack of support from other states, led South Carolina to cease their nullification of the tariffs.

The Compromise Tariff

Mar 1, 1833

Henry Clay (pictured) proposed a tariff that would lower the inflation of price from 50% to 20%, more like the 1816 moderate tariffs. This would also be a reason of which South Carolina would back down and rescind it's Ordinance of Nullification on March 15, 1833. However, three days after they would nullify the Force Bill.