The Nullification Crisis
Calhoun versus Jackson
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?
Definitions
“Doctrine of Nullification”
 Theory that State’s have a right to refuse to obey any act
of Congress they consider unconstitutional.
Secede:

Withdraw from a larger political body.
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.
What Caused the Crisis?
The “Tariff of Abomination” see You Tube!
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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
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.
What was South Carolina's response?
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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.
“The Elephant in the Room:
Slavery”

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Tariff debate seen as a
referendum of sorts on
Slavery
Sectional Differences
growing and it comes
down to issue of slavery.

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South fears the growing
North will interfere with
property rights or
slavery.
If can nullify tariff law
then could nullify any
laws restricting slavery.
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.

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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
What is Jackson’s responsibility as President
in the face of South Carolina’s 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?
The response of Jackson
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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.”

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He declared secession was illegal
To secede is to commit treason
He said that the Constitution made the Federal
Government supreme
How was the issue resolved?
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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