Tariff and Nullification

1
Tariff and Nullification

• The Players
• Adams Jackson Calhoun

2
The Tariff of 1828

• Jacksons supporters pushed it through Congress
  to ruin the Adams presidency
• Demand for high tariff came from MA and RI woolen
  manufacturers
• Raised tariff to 50 (from 20 in 1816)
• The westwanted other items included in tariff
• The Southhad to pay higher prices for goods they
  didnt manufacture
• The Eastgood for industriesbut only wanted it
  on wool

3
JOHN Q. ADAMS

• Knew he was signing his own political death
  penalty
• He did not believe a President should veto a bill
  unless it was unconstitutional

4
John C. Calhoun

• Supported 1816 tariff
• Against the 1828 Tariff of Abominations

5
Theory of Nullification

• 1828 The South Carolina Exposition JCs
  position on nullification
• US was based one compact among the sovereign
  stateseach state had right to decide whether an
  act of Congress was constitutional. If not, could
  nullify if states didnt have this right, then
  federal government might trample on the rights of
  a minority.

6
The Protagonists
7
The Debate

• Issues
• Began as a debate on the control of Western land
• Southerners wanted the states to control
  their own land, and put aside federal laws if
  necessary
• Easterners wanted to curtail Western land sales

8

• Webster shifted the debate to one of states
  rights vs. national power
• Hayne said the state had the right to openly defy
  an act of Congress

9

• Webster spoke for 4 hrs. without notes.
• Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and
  inseparable!
• Calhoun was waiting for Jacksons reaction

10
Jacksons Response

• Our Federal UnionIt must and shall be
  preserved.
• Calhoun countered with
• The Union, next to our liberty most dear

11
Nullification Crisis

• 1832 Tariff Bill to 1828
• SC legislature voted to nullify the collection of
  duties within the state
• SC elected Calhoun (who had resigned as VP) to
  Senate
• Jackson said nullification was treason
• Force billauthorize Pres. to use military force
  to enforce acts of Congress

12
The Resolution

• SC had no support from other states
• Clay devised compromise so that slowly tariff, by
  1842, would equal the 1816 level
• Jackson signed Force Bill and Compromise Tariff
  on same day
• SC repealed its nullification of tariff, but
  nullified the force act

13
Evaluation of Jackson on this issue

• Was this a positive or negative for the Jackson
  presidency? Was he acting as a man of the
  people, or King Andrew?
• Rate his actions on a scale of 1-10.