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Tariff of 1824
The Tariff of 1824 was created to protect American industry and commerce from British industry by raising taxes on British goods, making them more expensive. The British goods that were taxed include; iron products, wool, cotton, and agricultural goods. This increase in price forced Americans to buy from American Industries as opposed to more affordable British goods. Americans were upset with the restraining tax, but specifically the south, because they heavily depended on cheaper British goods -
Tariff of 1828
The 'Tariff of Abominations' was created under Jackson's presidency to protect and support Northern American Industry. The Tariff taxed 92% of all imported goods, forcing Americans to buy American made goods. The North supported the Tariff because it increased their revenue and brought in money and commerce. The South was outraged because they were no longer able to afford foreign goods as a whole, not just British goods. They believed the North was benefited at the expense of the South. -
The South Carolina Exposition
The South Carolina Exposition was a pamphlet secretly written by John C. Calhoun. It was written against of the 'The Tariff of Abominations' claiming it was unconstitutional and unfair. He announced that every state should nullify the Tariff and not apply it to state government or commerce. The south agreed with his pamphlet, stating that the Tariffs wreaked havoc on their economic growth. The North did not support Calhoun because Northern industries were gaining a lot of money from the Tariff. -
The Tariff of 1832
The Tariff of 1832 was enacted under Jackson's presidency but was mostly written by John Quincy Adams. This Tariff was meant to appease the South with a compromise that would repair the damage from the Tariff of 1828. These compromises reduced taxes on foreign goods, but were far from successful in meeting the South's demands. The South's unrest paved the way for the Nullification Crisis, all while the North was still profiting off the many Tariffs. -
South Carolina Nullification
As Tariffs were enacted and southern states were getting angry, South Carolina was preparing for a rebellion with Calhoun.Two parties formed; the 'nullies' party and the Unionist party. The nullies were the majority party. State legislatures organized a convention in Columbia, and declared the Tariff void in the SC borders. They also threatened to leave the Union if forced to abide by the Tariff. The south supported their rebellion, but the North was mad at their lack of unity in the Union. -
Jackson's Proclamation Against Nullification
Responding to South Carolina's nullification, Jackson ordered the Proclamation Against Nullification. This Proclamation claimed that a state government could not nullify a federal law. The south was infuriated with his proclamation because they value the power in state government and hated the Tariffs. The North agreed with his Proclamation, valuing a strong central government and the revenue they brought in with the Tariffs. -
Hayne's Counter Proclamation
Robert Y. Hayne, the governor of SC, responded to Jackson's Proclamation with a Counter Proclamation. He claimed that if a state is being oppressed by a law, it has the power to forcefully void the law to protect the rights of the people. The North didn't support Hayne's Proclamation, they valued a stronger central government like the Whigs and a government that helps to benefit them. The South agrees with Hayne; much like the Democratic Party, the South wants state governments to have power. -
Force Bill
The Force Bill was enacted by Jackson, allowing him to use military force if necessary against any state that resisted the Tariff and to collect Tariff duties. South Carolina, led by Calhoun, resisted the Bill and declared it null and void in SC borders. The North supported Jackson's Bill, wanting all states to be forced to abide by Tariffs that bring them money. The South did not support Bill, they wanted each state to have the power to disregard a federal law if it is deemed unconstitutional. -
Clay's Compromise
This compromise was proposed by both John C. Calhoun and Henry Clay in an attempt to stop the Nullification Crisis. The act claimed that import taxes set in place by the previous Tariffs would be gradually cut down. By 1842, the tax was planned to be equal to the taxes in place during the Tariff of 1816, an average of 20 percent. The South was not extremely happy with the compromise, but they were comforted to see a definite change. The North was not happy because they were gaining less revenue. -
South Carolina Repeal of Nullification
Following Clay's Compromise, South Carolina made peace with the Tariffs.They rejoined the Union and no longer threatened to separate from the Union. Despite their repeal of the Nullification, they nullified the Force Bill as a last show of rebellion. There was no obvious winner between the North and the South with Clay's Compromise. It balanced the sides and gave the South more freedom, while the North lost some of it's revenue. The true hero was Henry Clay because he created the Compromise.
