The Congress Chapter 5 Section 3

Nullification Nullification- The belief that states had the right to nullify (disregard) laws passed by the national government. Nullification- The belief that states had the right to nullify (disregard) laws passed by the national government.

Alien and Sedition Acts State legislatures in Virginia and Kentucky passed resolutions that protested these measures and claimed the right to nullify them as unconstitutional. State legislatures in Virginia and Kentucky passed resolutions that protested these measures and claimed the right to nullify them as unconstitutional. After the debate over the Alien and Sedition Acts subsided, the country entered a period of expansion and consolidation. After the debate over the Alien and Sedition Acts subsided, the country entered a period of expansion and consolidation.

Tariffs The effect of high tariffs on foreign goods was extremely positive northern industry in the United States. The effect of high tariffs on foreign goods was extremely positive northern industry in the United States. Tariffs not only lessened foreign competition but also enabled northern manufactures to raise the prices of their goods sold to U.S. consumers Tariffs not only lessened foreign competition but also enabled northern manufactures to raise the prices of their goods sold to U.S. consumers

Negative side of Tariffs First, the tariffs made manufactured goods more expensive to buy. First, the tariffs made manufactured goods more expensive to buy. Second, the tariffs reduced the market for British-made cotton cloth. Second, the tariffs reduced the market for British-made cotton cloth. This meant that the South would sell less raw cotton to Britain, its chief customer because Britain was upset over its goods being heavily taxed sold in the United States. This meant that the South would sell less raw cotton to Britain, its chief customer because Britain was upset over its goods being heavily taxed sold in the United States.

John C. Calhoun John C. Calhoun of South Carolina was leading the southern resistance to high tariffs. John C. Calhoun of South Carolina was leading the southern resistance to high tariffs. John C. Calhoun argued that every state should have a right to ignore, or nullify, any act of Congress that in the state’s judgment violated the Constitution. The right of nullification applied to the tariff of 1828 because it benefited one section of the country at the expense of another. John C. Calhoun argued that every state should have a right to ignore, or nullify, any act of Congress that in the state’s judgment violated the Constitution. The right of nullification applied to the tariff of 1828 because it benefited one section of the country at the expense of another.

John C. Calhoun

To President Jackson, Calhoun’s nullification ideas seemed treasonable. To President Jackson, Calhoun’s nullification ideas seemed treasonable. The Union must be preserved. The Union must be preserved.

Ordinance of Nullification South Carolina threatened to secede from the Union if the federal government tried to enforce the collection of tariffs in southern ports. South Carolina threatened to secede from the Union if the federal government tried to enforce the collection of tariffs in southern ports. Seceding- Leaving the union. Seceding- Leaving the union. Clay persuaded Congress to pass a new tariff act in 1833, which provided for a gradual reduction of tariff rates. Clay persuaded Congress to pass a new tariff act in 1833, which provided for a gradual reduction of tariff rates.

Growing Sectional Conflict ( ) During the first half of the 19 th century, the nation expanded westward at an ever-increasing pace. During the first half of the 19 th century, the nation expanded westward at an ever-increasing pace. Expansion came at a price, however. Expansion came at a price, however. As new territories were added, arguments over whether to allow slavery in the West became more and more heated. As new territories were added, arguments over whether to allow slavery in the West became more and more heated. Various compromises were proposed, and two of them were tried. Various compromises were proposed, and two of them were tried. But as we shall see, despite these compromises, the South eventually seceded and the Civil War began. But as we shall see, despite these compromises, the South eventually seceded and the Civil War began. Slavery was more difficult to resolve than the differences over the tariff. Slavery was more difficult to resolve than the differences over the tariff.

The Missouri Compromise of 1820 Southern slave-owners who moved to the Missouri Territory brought their slaves with them. Southern slave-owners who moved to the Missouri Territory brought their slaves with them. In 1819 the people of Missouri applied for admission to the Union as a new state – a state permitting slavery. In 1819 the people of Missouri applied for admission to the Union as a new state – a state permitting slavery. There was much debate. There was much debate. Both northerners and southerners were well aware that Missouri’s admission would end the fragile balance of power between slave states of the South and free, or non-slave, states of the North. Both northerners and southerners were well aware that Missouri’s admission would end the fragile balance of power between slave states of the South and free, or non-slave, states of the North. Finally in 1820 Congress passed a compromise measure. Finally in 1820 Congress passed a compromise measure.

Missouri Compromise 1. Missouri would enter the Union as a slave state. 2. Maine would enter the Union as a free state. 3. All the territory north of the 36 30’ line of latitude in the lands of the Louisiana Purchase would be closed to slavery.

Slavery Issue This agreement of course did not apply to western lands (such as California or New Mexico) that the United States did not yet own. This agreement of course did not apply to western lands (such as California or New Mexico) that the United States did not yet own. Thus, the crisis over slavery in the West was not solved, only put off to a later time. Thus, the crisis over slavery in the West was not solved, only put off to a later time.

Compromise of 1850 After the war with Mexico and the addition of the California territory to the United States, the Missouri Compromise was no longer acceptable to either northerners or southerners on the issue of California and the new territories becoming slave or free states. After the war with Mexico and the addition of the California territory to the United States, the Missouri Compromise was no longer acceptable to either northerners or southerners on the issue of California and the new territories becoming slave or free states.

Compromise of 1850 Henry Clay of Kentucky proposed to settle the dispute with the issue of California. Henry Clay of Kentucky proposed to settle the dispute with the issue of California. California would be admitted to the Union as a free state. California would be admitted to the Union as a free state. In other parts of the Mexican Cession, settlers would decide by majority vote whether or not to allow slavery. In other parts of the Mexican Cession, settlers would decide by majority vote whether or not to allow slavery. The issue, in other words, would be decided by popular sovereignty. The issue, in other words, would be decided by popular sovereignty.

Mexican Cession Lands given by Mexico to the United States after the 1848 war, including what would be the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Nevada. Lands given by Mexico to the United States after the 1848 war, including what would be the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Nevada.

He suggested a compromise that the practice of buying and selling slaves at public auction in Washington D.C., would be abolished. He suggested a compromise that the practice of buying and selling slaves at public auction in Washington D.C., would be abolished. Fugitive Slave Act will be enforced in North with heavy fines for those who disobey. Fugitive Slave Act will be enforced in North with heavy fines for those who disobey.

Fugitive Slave Act Government officials in the North would assist in the capture of escaped slaves and return them to their masters in the south. Government officials in the North would assist in the capture of escaped slaves and return them to their masters in the south. California would be admitted as a free state and the territories from the Mexican Cession would decide by majority vote whether or not to allow slavery. California would be admitted as a free state and the territories from the Mexican Cession would decide by majority vote whether or not to allow slavery.

Dred Scott Case Dred Scott had lived in Missouri as a slave before being taken by his owner to Illinois, a free state. Dred Scott had lived in Missouri as a slave before being taken by his owner to Illinois, a free state. Returning to the slave state of Missouri, Scott went to court to sue for his freedom. Returning to the slave state of Missouri, Scott went to court to sue for his freedom. He argued that he had lived in a free territory and therefore should be declared a free citizen. He argued that he had lived in a free territory and therefore should be declared a free citizen. His case eventually was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. His case eventually was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Ruling In 1857 the Supreme Court ruled that Scott’s petition was not valid. In 1857 the Supreme Court ruled that Scott’s petition was not valid. The reason for the verdict that Chief Justice Roger Taney, a southerner gave was even free African Americans could not sue in a federal court, since they were not citizens of the United States. The reason for the verdict that Chief Justice Roger Taney, a southerner gave was even free African Americans could not sue in a federal court, since they were not citizens of the United States. Slaves brought into free territory remained slaves because they were a form of property. Slaves brought into free territory remained slaves because they were a form of property. Owners would not be denied their property rights without due process of law. Owners would not be denied their property rights without due process of law. The Missouri Compromise, which had excluded slavery from free territory, was unconstitutional because it denied slave owners their property rights. The Missouri Compromise, which had excluded slavery from free territory, was unconstitutional because it denied slave owners their property rights.

Reactions The South’s reaction to the Supreme Courts decision in the Dred Scott Case was that they were very pleased that the court system confirmed their views on slavery. The South’s reaction to the Supreme Courts decision in the Dred Scott Case was that they were very pleased that the court system confirmed their views on slavery. The North’s reaction to the Supreme Courts decision in the Dred Scott Case was that they were shocked to think that all western territories were now thrown open to slavery. The North’s reaction to the Supreme Courts decision in the Dred Scott Case was that they were shocked to think that all western territories were now thrown open to slavery.