Andrew Jackson & the Nullification Crisis
Resentment from the Tariff of Abominations leads to growing support for nullification.
In 1832, the dispute over tariffs and nullification had been brewing for some time. The federal government passed protectionist tariffs on foreign goods to guard emerging industries located primarily in the north. Some of the residents of southern states who sold their cotton on the world market wanted access to foreign goods at lower prices, so they greatly resented these tariffs. The tariff passed in 1828 was particularly odious and became known as the Tariff of Abominations. Support for nullification gained support from this resentment.
Tariff of Abominations
South Carolina Exposition and Protest
John C. Calhoun of South Carolina writes and anonymously publishes the South Carolina Exposition and Protest, which argued strongly against the Tariff of 1828 and proposed nullification.
Webster-Hayne Debate
The Webster-Hayne Debate between New Hampshire Senator Daniel Webster and South Carolina Senator Robert Young Hayne highlighted the sectional nature of the controversy. Since as Vice President and President of the Senate, Calhoun could not take place in the debate, Hayne represented the pro-nullification point-of-view.
Vice President John C. Calhoun is a proponent of nullification.
Jackson’s first term Vice President, John C. Calhoun of South Carolina, was the leading proponent of nullification. He had written the South Carolina Exposition and Protest in 1828, which argued strongly against the Tariff of 1828 and proposed nullification—the interpretation of the Constitution that the federal government was formed through a compact of the states and that this gave the individual states authority to nullify laws they saw as unconstitutional—as a solution. The pamphlet was published anonymously although Calhoun’s authorship was generally known. Because of his position as Vice President, he could not publicly support nullification.
Jackson Makes His Stance on Nullification Known
Preserving the Union
In April 1830, at a dinner honoring Thomas Jefferson’s birthday, the nullifiers presented multiple lengthy toasts supporting their position. When President Jackson had his turn, he made the simple toast “Our Union, It Must be Preserved.” He had intended to say, “Our Federal Union. . . ,” and that is how the toast is quoted. In this way, Jackson told those who supported nullification that he would not allow the Union to be destroyed.
The Nullification Crisis Continues
Tariff of 1832
Congress passed the Tariff of 1832, which brought no relief to the South Carolina position.
Ordinance of Nullification
South Carolina passed the Ordinance of Nullification in November. That Ordinance declared the Tariff Acts of 1828 and 1832 unconstitutional and null and void within the borders of the state.
Nullification Proclamation
President Andrew Jackson took immediate action. He outlined his position to Secretary of State Edward Livingston, who helped draft the text of the proclamation issued December 10, 1832. The Nullification Proclamation, is one of the most consequential actions of his presidency.
Calhoun Resigns
Calhoun resigned as Vice President, feeling that he could best support nullification as a Senator.
The Nullification Proclamation States:
Responding to the Nullification Proclamation
Former Senator Hayne, by then the governor of South Carolina, began to organize an armed resistance to the collection of the tariff. Congress passed the Force Bill in early 1833, which allowed the President to send armed troops to enforce tariff collections. At this delicate point, Senators Henry Clay, Daniel Webster and John C. Calhoun negotiated a compromise Tariff of 1833 which allowed both sides to back down. South Carolina repealed its Ordinance of Nullification.
The Nullification Crisis & The Civil War
Jackson’s handling of the Nullification Crisis influenced President Abraham Lincoln as he faced the Civil War. Jackson commented on the crisis to his cousin Andrew J. Crawford in May 1833: “I have had a laborious task here—but nullification is dead, and its actors & exciters will only be remembered by the people to be execrated for their wicked designs to sever & destroy the only good government on the Globe, and that prosperity and happiness we enjoy over every other portion of the world.” It is interesting to note that a copy of this letter was given to Abraham Lincoln.
Nullification is the authority for individual states to nullify federal laws they find unconstitutional within their borders. Nullification gathered great support in the southern states in the early 19th century.
Senators Henry Clay, Daniel Webster and John C. Calhoun negotiated the Compromise Tariff of 1833 which lowered tariffs gradually over a period of ten years. South Carolina repealed its Ordinance of Nullification and accepted the Compromise Tariff of 1833.
The Nullification Crisis was a result of southern states resistance to imposed, protective tariffs on foreign goods to guard emerging industries. Southern states viewed these tariffs as “unconstitutional”. When John C. Calhoun anonymously published the South Carolina Exposition and Protest, he argued strongly against the Tariff of 1828 and proposed nullification.
The Nullification Crisis was the first time that friction between state and federal authority began to create enough tension that it almost led to a civil war. Andrew Jackson’s leadership in this crisis forestalled succession by nearly 30 years.
No, he did not. Andrew Jackson, generally in favor of states’ rights, saw nullification as a threat to the Union. In his view, the federal government derived its power from the people, not from the states, and the federal laws had greater authority than those of the individual states.
Andrew Jackson responded to the Nullification Crisis by issuing the Nullification Proclamation on December 10, 1832.
