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THE TARIFF
THE TARIFF
Beginning in 1789, the United States federal government helped America’s young industries by creating a tariff. A tariff is a tax on imported goods. Many Americans bought British made goods because they were more durable and sold for less. The tariff was raised and 1824, and then raised to an unbearable rate in 1828, thus receiving its nickname of the Tariff of Abominations!
Beginning in 1789, the United States federal government helped America’s young industries by creating a tariff. A tariff is a tax on imported goods. Many Americans bought British made goods because they were more durable and sold for less. The tariff was raised and 1824, and then raised to an unbearable rate in 1828, thus receiving its nickname of the Tariff of Abominations!
PERSPECTIVES ON THE TARIFF
PERSPECTIVES ON THE TARIFF
THE NORTH
THE NORTH
- “Supporting industry is the American thing to do!”
- “Why buy foreign goods when you can buy American!”
- “We need to protect American jobs!”
- “If people would stop buying foreign goods, that would strengthen our economy!”
- “Making foreign goods more expensive will make our goods even more desirable!”
THE SOUTH
THE SOUTH
- “European goods are of better quality! How will we show our social status without having the finest goods from Europe? This tariff is an abomination!”
- “We depend on European countries to buy our cotton! We can’t make them angry by putting a high tax on their goods!”
- “Our economy will suffer if we have less trade with Europe!”
- “This tariff favors the North’s needs over our desires! Why doesn’t this government work for Southern gentlemen like us?”
- “Our plantations depend on farm equipment made in Europe! How are we going to survive without these goods? We just can’t afford them anymore!”
So what is Nullification?
So what is Nullification?
The concept of nullification found it's roots in the Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions. Click here to learn more about Nullification and the Nullification Crisis.
The concept of nullification found it's roots in the Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions. Click here to learn more about Nullification and the Nullification Crisis.
What Happened?
What Happened?
In 1832, Vice President John C. Calhoun resigned in protest against the tariff of 1832 and returned to South Carolina to lead the nullification efforts of the state. South Carolina's legislature passed a resolution declaring the tariff nullified in the state. President Andrew Jackson responded by signing the Force Act, which gave him the power to use federal troops to enforce the tariffs. Before any direct conflict could occur, Clay worked out a compromise that allowed the sectional crisis to cool.
In 1832, Vice President John C. Calhoun resigned in protest against the tariff of 1832 and returned to South Carolina to lead the nullification efforts of the state. South Carolina's legislature passed a resolution declaring the tariff nullified in the state. President Andrew Jackson responded by signing the Force Act, which gave him the power to use federal troops to enforce the tariffs. Before any direct conflict could occur, Clay worked out a compromise that allowed the sectional crisis to cool.
Clearly, the nullification crisis over tariffs contributed to widening the divide between the North and South. Despite the compromise on the issue of tariffs in 1833, sectional tensions remained, especially Southern fear regarding the power of the federal government over slavery. These tensions would eventually culminate in the Civil War.
Clearly, the nullification crisis over tariffs contributed to widening the divide between the North and South. Despite the compromise on the issue of tariffs in 1833, sectional tensions remained, especially Southern fear regarding the power of the federal government over slavery. These tensions would eventually culminate in the Civil War.
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