Overview
This lecture covers the South Carolina Nullification Crisis, examining its origins, events, and consequences, and highlighting its role as a precursor to the Civil War and debates over federal versus state authority.
Background: The Jacksonian Era
- The Jacksonian Era (1825–1849) was shaped by Andrew Jackson’s leadership and focus on expanding democracy.
- Political conflict began after the 1824 "corrupt bargain," splitting the Democratic-Republican Party into National Republicans (later Whigs) and Democrats led by Jackson.
- Jackson promoted a "common man" image and expanded voting rights by eliminating property requirements.
- Jackson's presidency emphasized a strong executive branch and frequent use of the veto.
The Tariff of Abominations and Sectional Tension
- The Tariff of 1828 ("Tariff of Abominations") imposed high duties on foreign imports, hurting Southern states.
- Southern states, especially South Carolina, blamed the tariff for economic woes and declining political power.
- The Missouri Compromise limited Southern political expansion, increasing Southern anxiety.
Calhoun and the Doctrine of Nullification
- Vice President John C. Calhoun anonymously authored the "South Carolina Exposition and Protest."
- Calhoun argued that states could nullify federal laws they deemed unconstitutional, citing the compact theory from Jefferson and Madison.
- The document claimed the tariff unfairly favored Northern industry over Southern agriculture.
- Fire-eaters in South Carolina considered secession as a potential solution.
The Webster-Hayne Debates
- The 1830 Webster-Hayne debates in Congress framed the conflict as federal authority (Webster) versus states’ rights (Hayne).
- Webster argued the Constitution was made by the people, not the states, and that nullification equals disunion and civil war.
The Crisis Unfolds: Ordinance of Nullification
- South Carolina called a state convention in 1832, declaring the 1828 and 1832 tariffs null and void within its borders.
- The state threatened secession if the federal government enforced the tariffs.
- Calhoun resigned as vice president and became U.S. senator to defend nullification.
Jackson Responds and the Compromise
- Jackson issued a proclamation denouncing nullification as treason and mobilized federal troops.
- Congress passed the "Force Bill" authorizing military enforcement of federal laws.
- Henry Clay brokered the Compromise Tariff of 1833, gradually lowering duties, which South Carolina accepted.
- South Carolina rescinded its nullification but nullified the Force Bill as a symbolic gesture.
Significance and Legacy
- The crisis cemented the Southern belief in the right to secede if their interests were threatened.
- Nullification failed as a solution, making secession seem the only remaining recourse.
- The true cause was not tariffs, but Southern fears over the future of slavery as Northern political power and abolitionism grew.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Nullification — Doctrine that a state can invalidate federal laws deemed unconstitutional.
- Tariff of Abominations — The 1828 high tariff on imports, opposed by the South.
- Compact Theory — Idea that the Constitution is an agreement among states, giving them power to judge federal overreach.
- Force Bill — Congressional act authorizing the president to use military force to enforce federal laws.
- Secession — The act of a state leaving the Union.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the causes and events of the Nullification Crisis.
- Study primary documents: South Carolina Exposition and Protest, Force Bill, and Webster-Hayne speeches.
- Prepare to discuss how the Nullification Crisis influenced later events leading to the Civil War.