Key Concepts of the Nullification Crisis

Key Concepts of the Nullification Crisis

• Tariff: A government tax on imports or exports that can impact economic balance between states.

• Supremacy Clause: Article VI of the Constitution establishes that the Constitution, national laws, and treaties take precedence over state laws when the national government operates within constitutional bounds.

• Federal Government System: A system of governance where power is shared between national and state levels, crucial in understanding state-federal relations.

Overview of the Nullification Crisis

• Nullification Crisis (1832-1833): A conflict between President Andrew Jackson and South Carolina's legislature, which declared the 1832 tariff null and void and threatened to secede if duties were enforced.

• South Carolina Ordinance of Nullification: Based on John Calhoun's theory from the South Carolina Exposition and Protest (1828), this ordinance declared federal tariffs null and prohibited duty collection within the state.

• Jackson's Proclamation: Jackson asserted that the tariff was valid and threatened military action to enforce it, emphasizing the dangers of secession.

Key Figures and Events

• Andrew Jackson: The seventh President (1829-1837), known for his military success in the War of 1812 and his staunch opposition to state nullification and the Bank of the United States, while expanding presidential authority.

• John C. Calhoun: A leading opponent of the 1828 protective tariffs affecting the South economically, he developed the doctrine of nullification, claiming states could determine the constitutionality of laws.

• Compromise Tariff of 1833: Proposed by Henry Clay and John Calhoun, this tariff gradually decreased duties to levels consistent with the 1816 tariff, successfully diffusing tensions and delaying civil conflict for 30 years.

Long-term Implications

• Seeds for the American Civil War: The Nullification Crisis highlighted stark regional divisions and set precedents for state versus federal authority, laying groundwork for future conflicts leading to the Civil War.