The Nullification Crisis

1
The Nullification Crisis

• Calhoun versus Jackson

2
Jefferson Day Dinner Toasts

• Jackson Our Union, It must be preserved.

• Calhoun The Union, next to our liberty most
  dear.
• What do these statements say about the priorities
  of these men?

3
Definitions

• Doctrine of Nullification
• Theory that States have a right to refuse to
  obey any act of Congress they consider
  unconstitutional.
• Secede
• Withdraw from a larger political body.

4
Do States have the right to secede?Are there
dangers in this theory?

• We the People of the United States, in Order to
  form a more perfect Union, establish Justice,
  insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the
  common defense, promote the general Welfare, and
  secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and
  our Posterity, do ordain and establish this
  Constitution for the United States of America.
• Calhoun espoused a Compact Theory Union a
  compact of the states. If Constitution an
  agreement among the states then the states should
  say what it means and not the Supreme Court.

5
What Caused the Crisis?

• The Tariff of Abomination see You Tube!
• Congress passed protective tariff in 1828 which
  raised price of foreign goods sold in USA T. of
  Abominations
• West and New England liked it because it made it
  easier to sell their products.
• South disliked the tariff because they used many
  imported goods and paid more for them. In
  addition, they wanted a free market to sell their
  product overseas, COTTON
• Congress passed another tariff in 1832

6
S.C. Ordinance of Nullification

• Read the Nullification Act and write a summary
  sentence for the 6 main paragraphs.
• Finally complete the sentence, phrase, word
  strategy for the entire document. Write your
  choices on the provided newsprint.

7
What was South Carolina's response?

• In response to tariffs of 1828 and 1832 S.C.
  passes the Nullification Act 1832 which declared
  the tariff null and void.
• They also threatened to secede if the federal
  government challenged the state law.
• John C. Calhoun resigned as Vice-President
• Calhoun argued that states have the right to
  restrict federal authority.

8
The Elephant in the Room Slavery

• Tariff debate seen as a referendum of sorts on
  Slavery
• Sectional Differences growing and it comes down
  to issue of slavery.

• South fears the growing North will interfere with
  property rights or slavery.
• If can nullify tariff law then could nullify any
  laws restricting slavery.

9
Note how the Nullification Ordinance ends.

• Done in convention at Columbia, the twenty-fourth
  day of November, in the year of our Lord one
  thousand eight hundred and thirty-two, and in the
  fifty-seventh year of the Declaration of the
  Independence of the United States of America.
• The Ordinance ends is an unusual manner, by
  noting it is the 57 year of the Declaration of
  Independence of the United States of America.
  Why end in this manner?
• Explain in a strong paragraph

10
What is Jacksons responsibility as President in
the face of South Carolinas threat to secede?

• "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will
  faithfully execute the office of President of the
  United States, and will to the best of my
  ability, preserve, protect and defend the
  Constitution of the United States."
• Can Jackson be true to His oath of Office and
  allow secession or nullification?

11
The response of Jackson

• Jackson threatens to use military power to
  enforce the law and preserve the Union
• If one drop of blood be shed there in defiance
  of the laws of the United States, I will hang the
  first man of them I can get my hands on to the
  first tree I can find.
• He declared secession was illegal
• To secede is to commit treason
• He said that the Constitution made the Federal
  Government supreme

12
How was the issue resolved?

• Henry Clay cobbled together a compromise
• Tariff would be gradually lowered to levels of
  1816
• South Carolina rescinded its action
• But interestingly, the rest of the South
  declared South Carolina's course unwise and
  unconstitutional.
• Why do you think other states said this? What
  does this say about South Carolina?
• Foreshadows the Civil War