South Carolina and Nullification

South Carolina History
Mrs. Helms
2024-2025​

​South Carolina and Nullification

​Review Time

Match

Match the following

• Tariff

• Nullification

• States' Rights

• Sectionalism

tax on imports

Refusal to obey federal laws

State power is greater than fed. power

Exaggerated loyalty to one's area

• tax on imports

• Refusal to obey federal laws

• State power is greater than fed. power

• Exaggerated loyalty to one's area

Multiple Choice

Why were many South Carolinians opposed to the adoption of a protective tariff?

• The tariff added a tax to cotton exported to foreign countries.

• The tariff added a tax to goods that were produced with slave labor.

• The tariff increased prices on goods imported from foreign countries.

• The tariff decreased the amount northern manufacturers paid for cotton.

Multiple Choice

Why did many southern farmers oppose the adoption of protective tariffs in the early 1800s?

• They believed it promoted the interests of northern manufacturers over the needs of farmers.

• They believed it would increase demand for cotton, and farmer swould be unable to grow enough.

• They believed it would increase cotton imports from overseas, and farmers would be unable to compete.

• They believed it equally hurt northern manufacturers and farmers.

Multiple Choice

What did Calhoun propose South Carolina and other states should do when a federal law appeared to be unconstitutional?

• present a lawsuit to the Supreme Court

• nullify the law and refuse to follow it

• propose new legislation (laws) via their senators

• secede from the Union

​1. Identify the States Rights and Free Trade
Party.

• Group in favor of nullification

• Also known as Nullifiers

• Won control of the General Assembly in 1832...they now had enough votes in the legislature to call a special convention to discuss the tariffs of 1828 and 1832

​2. Identify the States' Rights and Union Party

• Also known as Unionists

• Opposed nullification

​3. In July 1832, Congress passed a new tariff. This tariff, though not as
high as the tariff of 1828, was still unsatisfactory to the south. How
did the South Carolina legislature respond to the tariff of 1832?

• The South Carolina legislature called for a special convention.

• Promptly nullified the tariffs of 1828 and 1832 and refused to collect any duties

• Also threatened to set up a separate government outside of the Union- effectively seceding- if the federal government resorted to force.

Multiple Choice

How did South Carolina respond to high tariffs passed by the federal government in 1832?

• by seceding from the Union

• by declaring the tariff null and void

• by campaigning against Andrew Jackson

• by granting emancipation (freedom) to slaves

​4. What did Jackson call nullification?

Jackson openly attacked nullification, calling it treason.

​5. Define treason.

The crime of trying to overthrow the government of one's state or country.

Multiple Choice

This is an excerpt from a statement adopted by the South Carolina General Assemby in 1838. What impact did this statement have on the nation?

• It increased sectionalism by suggesting that states could declare federal laws unconstitutional.

• It encouraged industrial growth by supporting tariffs that helped the textile industry.

• It promoted westward expansion by extending slavery into unsettled territories.

• It reduced sectionalism by establishing a process to use for admitting new states.

​6. How did Jackson respond to South Carolina's actions?

Jackson promised to use force to ensure that the laws of the United States were obeyed.

​7. What power was given to the president in the
Force Bill?

Congress backed Jackson by passing the Force Bill, which gave the president the power to enforce the tariff duties.

​8. When John C. Calhoun resigned as vice-
president, what new position did he hold?

John C. Calhoun took Robert Hayne's place in the United States Senate.

Multiple Choice

This is an excerpt from a speech given by President Andrew Jackson in 1832. In this speech, Jackson was stating his objection to what idea?

• abolition

• national bank

• nullification

• spoils system

​9. How was the stand off between Jackson and South Carolina
prevented?

• Several U.S. senators worked to prepare a compromise tariff, which Congress adopted in 1833.

• Once the new tariff was in place, South Carolina repealed its nullification of the earlier tariffs.

• Full confrontation was avoided.

Multiple Choice

How did Andrew Jackson resolve the issue of South Carolina's refusal to pay the tariff?

• He compromised by threatening the use of force while also lowering the tariff rates.

• He took a hard line and used the military to enforce the collectio of tariffs in Charleston.

• He agreed with South Carolina and stated that they did not have to pay the tariff.

• He fired his Vice President, John C. Calhoun, and declaried South Carolina a rebelling state.

​10. While South Carolina repealed its nullification of the tariffs
of 1828 and 1832, what did the state vote to do to the Force
Act? Why do you thin they took that action?

South Carolina voted to nullify the Force Act, thus asserting (affirming; emphasizing; declaring) a state's right to declare an act of Congress to be unconstitutional in that state.

​Final Thoughts...

• The Nullification Crisis revealed that southerners would not tolerate any federal policies that challenged their interests or threatened the existence of slavery.

• Southerners were made more conscious of their minority position and more aware of their vulnerability to a northern majority as long as they remained in the Union.

Multiple Choice

This time line shows several events that took place between 1828 and 1832. These events are evidence of conflicts between what two ideas?

• abolition and economic growth

• individual rights and national security

• manufacturing and social reform

• national authority and states' rights

Multiple Choice

Why did many South Carolinians, including John C. Calhoun, advocate (support) for the theory of nullification?

• They wanted higher tariffs on imported goods.

• They wanted to promote manufacturing and textile production in the state.

• They wanted to ensure the federal government could not outlaw slavery.

• They wanted the federal government to have more power over the states.