c. Describe the Nullification Crisis and the
emergence of states’ rights ideology;
include the role of John C. Calhoun and
development of sectionalism.
d. Describe the war with Mexico and the
Wilmot Proviso.
e. Explain the Compromise of 1850.
Nullification Crisis
• In the early 1800s South
Carolina’s economy began
to weaken in part due to
high government tariffs, or
taxes, on imports.
• In 1828 Congress passed
another tariff, which many
called the Tariff of
Abominations.
• South Carolina threatened
to secede over the high
tariffs.
Why would tariffs hurt Southern
states like South Carolina more
than Northern States?
Nullification Crisis
• Vice-President John C.
Calhoun, from South
Carolina, supported the
idea of nullification, or the
right of the states to
declare federal laws null,
or void.
• He declared that states had
this power of nullification
because the states had
created the federal
government.
Nullification Crisis
• In 1832, Congress passed yet another tariff.
• In November 1832, South Carolina declared the tariffs null, and
refused to pay the federal government’s taxes on imports.
Nullification Crisis
• President Andrew Jackson ordered a warship to Charleston,
viewing the nullification as a treasonous act.
• To ease tensions, Congress passed a bill that gradually lowered
tariffs.
• South Carolina repealed its nullification of tariffs and the issue
was temporarily solved.
How was the Nullification Crisis
an example of sectionalism?
War With Mexico
• James Polk became President in
1845, promising to annex Texas
and Oregon.
• The U.S. annexes Texas, causing
a boundary dispute with Mexico.
• Polk ordered the army into the
disputed area -Mexican troops
open fire on the Americans
• Polk then declared war on
Mexico, claiming they were the
aggressor
• The American army is ordered into Mexico, and
out to California.
• Before the troops can reach California, a group of
American settlers revolt and take the area naming
it the Bear Flag Republic.
• In 1847, the U.S. Army enters Mexico City
causing the Mexicans to surrender ending the
war.
War With Mexico
War With Mexico
• Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the war, giving the U.S. a
vast amount of land in the Southwest.
• The U.S. now stretched
from the Atlantic to the
Pacific Ocean.
Why would this treaty cause
problems with the Slavery issue?
Wilmot Proviso
• Proposed in 1846, that any territory gained from Mexico would
not be allowed to have slaves.
• The proposal upset Southerners, and though it passed in the
House, the Senate refused to vote on it.
• The Wilmot Proviso continued a north-south sectionalism over
the slavery issue.
Wilmot Proviso
• To counter the Wilmot Proviso and to
ease tension, a proposal was made to
allow the new territories to decide for
themselves on the slavery issue, an idea
called popular sovereignty.
• California applied for statehood in 1849,
threatening to break the balance of free
and slave states.
• Henry Clay proposed a resolution
which became know as the
Compromise of 1850.
Compromise of 1850
Though the Compromise initially had little support, it was passed,
by dividing it into smaller bills, allowing Congress to vote on each
issue separately easing the tension over slavery.
Questions
1. How was the Nullification Crisis an example of sectionalism?
2. What caused the US to go to war with Mexico? What did the
US gain from winning the war?
3. How was the Wilmot Proviso connected to the Mexican War?
4. Why was the Compromise of 1850 necessary?