May 19, 1828, a tariff was placed on imported goods to lessen the amount of purchases from outside the country, since buying from Europe was ruining businesses. (Also known as the Tariff Abomination.) But because the South was not as into manufacturing as the North, it affected them greatly. They became furious. The South were harmed by having to pay higher prices on goods the region did not produce. The tariff also reduced the importation of British goods, making it difficult for the British to pay for the cotton they imported from the South. The reaction in the South, especially South Carolina, led to the Nullification Crisis that began in late 1832.
The Nullification Crisis was led by John C. Calhoun from South Carolina. He declared that states were allowed to nullify or void federal laws if the law was unconstitutional and they refused to follow it. President Andrew Jackson replied with rage, sending troops to be prepared to enforce the Tariff bill and asking Congress for a "Force Bill" to back him up. On the very same day Jackson's request "Force Bill" was passed (March 2, 1833), Henry Clay's compromise tariff also passed. While the Force Bill may have discouraged other Southern states from joining the South Carolina's opposition to the federal tariff, it was the compromise on the tariff that allowed South Carolina to "save face" and leave from its nullification ordinance.
Though this crisis and a new tariff law was passed, there were still lots of tension left between the North and the South. Southern legislators continued to claim states rights and for the right to govern themselves.
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