South Carolina and Nullification

​Review Time

​1. Identify the States Rights and Free Trade
Party.

• Group in favor of nullification

• Also known as Nullifiers

• Won control of the General Assembly in 1832...they now had enough votes in the legislature to call a special convention to discuss the tariffs of 1828 and 1832

​2. Identify the States' Rights and Union Party

• Also known as Unionists

• Opposed nullification

​3. In July 1832, Congress passed a new tariff. This tariff, though not as
high as the tariff of 1828, was still unsatisfactory to the south. How
did the South Carolina legislature respond to the tariff of 1832?

• The South Carolina legislature called for a special convention.

• Promptly nullified the tariffs of 1828 and 1832 and refused to collect any duties

• Also threatened to set up a separate government outside of the Union- effectively seceding- if the federal government resorted to force.

​4. What did Jackson call nullification?

Jackson openly attacked nullification, calling it treason.

​5. Define treason.

The crime of trying to overthrow the government of one's state or country.

​6. How did Jackson respond to South Carolina's actions?

Jackson promised to use force to ensure that the laws of the United States were obeyed.

​7. What power was given to the president in the
Force Bill?

Congress backed Jackson by passing the Force Bill, which gave the president the power to enforce the tariff duties.

​8. When John C. Calhoun resigned as vice-
president, what new position did he hold?

John C. Calhoun took Robert Hayne's place in the United States Senate.

​9. How was the stand off between Jackson and South Carolina
prevented?

• Several U.S. senators worked to prepare a compromise tariff, which Congress adopted in 1833.

• Once the new tariff was in place, South Carolina repealed its nullification of the earlier tariffs.

• Full confrontation was avoided.

​10. While South Carolina repealed its nullification of the tariffs
of 1828 and 1832, what did the state vote to do to the Force
Act? Why do you thin they took that action?

South Carolina voted to nullify the Force Act, thus asserting (affirming; emphasizing; declaring) a state's right to declare an act of Congress to be unconstitutional in that state.

​Final Thoughts...

• The Nullification Crisis revealed that southerners would not tolerate any federal policies that challenged their interests or threatened the existence of slavery.

• Southerners were made more conscious of their minority position and more aware of their vulnerability to a northern majority as long as they remained in the Union.