States’ Rights & Nullification

Sectional Division Country pulled into 3 sections Northeast, South, & West Regions argued over 3 economic issues Public land sale Internal improvements Tariffs

Tariff of Abominations Congress passed high tariff under John Q. Adams Tariff of 1828 Proposed by Martin van Buren South hated it Forced to sell cotton @ low prices to be competitive Pay high prices for manufactured goods John C. Calhoun proposed the doctrine of nullification Alien & Sedition Acts as the model

Nullification Crisis Nullification debate grew in the U.S. Senate: Webster-Hayne Debate Led by Vice-President John C. Calhoun, he claimed, “states should have final authority on whether to follow acts of Congress” He felt states had the right to judge if a law is constitutional Congressmen from South Carolina defended & promoted secession

Presidential Response “Our Federal Union: It must be preserved.” South hoped for Jackson’s support since he was a supporter of states’ rights Jackson opposed nullification, but wanted to save the Union “Our Federal Union: It must be preserved.” Many people expected the states’ rights Jackson to side with Haynes. However once the debate shifted to secession and nullification, Jackson sided with Webster. On April 13, 1830 at the traditional Democratic Party celebration honoring Thomas Jefferson’s birthday, Jackson chose to make his position clear. In a battle of toasts, Hayne proposed, “The Union of the States, and the Sovereignty of the States.” Jackson’s response, when his turn came, was, “Our Federal Union: It must be preserved.” To those attending, the effect was dramatic. Calhoun would respond with his own toast, in a play on Webster’s closing remarks in the earlier debate, “The Union. Next to our liberty, the most dear.” Finally Martin Van Buren would offer, “Mutual forbearance and reciprocal concession. Through their agency the Union was established. The patriotic spirit from which they emanated will forever sustain it. South Carolina passed the Nullification Act & continued to threaten secession “Yes I have; please give my compliments to my friends in your State and say to them, that if a single drop of blood shall be shed there in opposition to the laws of the United States, I will hang the first man I can lay my hand on engaged in such treasonable conduct, upon the first tree I can reach.”

Compromise Jackson left Calhoun off his ticket in the 1832 election Chose Martin van Buren as his Vice President Jackson passed the Force Bill He could use force to enforce acts of Congress Henry Clay proposed a smaller compromise tariff in the Senate Congress passed it S.C. accepted the new tariff http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nfo_LnuDJ1c – Jackson as Supreme Leader of the Nation