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1828
The Tariff of Abominations is passed by Congress, which increases tariffs on imported products and benefits northern industrialists, but harms southern farmers. -
1829
Vice President John C. Calhoun of South Carolina begins to advocate for the nullification doctrine, arguing that states have the right to nullify federal laws that they consider unconstitutional. -
1830
Calhoun writes an anonymous essay titled "The South Carolina Speech," in which he argues that states have the right to nullify federal laws. -
1831
Tension between the north and the south increases due to the dispute over nullification and tariffs. -
The Tariff of 1832
The Tariff of 1832 is passed by Congress, reducing tariffs but still benefiting northern industrialists. South Carolina calls a state convention to consider nullifying the Tariff of 1832. -
December 1832
President Andrew Jackson issues a proclamation denouncing the nullification and threatening to use force to enforce federal laws. -
November 1832
The South Carolina state convention passes an ordinance nullifying the Tariff of 1832 and threatens to secede from the Union if the federal government attempts to enforce the law. -
March 1833
The crisis is resolved when South Carolina repeals its nullification ordinance and Congress reduces tariffs in the Tariff of 1833. The Nullification Crisis ends without a final resolution on the nullification issue.