Unit 5: Andrew Jackson / Tariffs and Nullification

Unit 5: Andrew Jackson / Tariffs and Nullification

Even with John C. Calhoun out of his administration for all intents and purposes, Jackson found that the South Carolinian could still cause trouble. In July 1831, Calhoun delivered a detailed statement of his views on nullification: the Union was a compact, so each state could review the acts of Congress and nullify–within its own borders–those laws and acts it deemed unacceptable. The first true test of the nullification idea came a year later, in January 1832, when Henry Clay announced his new tariff plan, the Tariff of 1832. What had begun as an attempt to even out the flaws of the Tariff of 1828 quickly became a battle between Jackson, who tried to preserve the power of the federal government, and Calhoun, who wanted only to win a form of judicial review for the states. Jackson countered Clay's bill with one he supported, a bill that would provide some relief to the South but upheld the protections for the North and West.

The tariff battle became even more personal when, in the midst of the tariff debate, Calhoun led the fight to block nomination of Martin Van Buren as minister to England. The Senate deadlocked on the nomination and it fell to Calhoun, as Vice President, to cast the tie-breaking vote. Calhoun gleefully voted against Van Buren. The move backfired, however, as Jackson swore he would avenge the loss. For his part, Van Buren gained sympathy support around Washington.

Jackson's tariff bill ultimately prevailed and passed both the House and Senate by a wide margin. South Carolina, however, held out. The state called a special session of the legislature to consider its options. With the Union appearing to be breaking up and civil war seemingly looming on the horizon, Jackson ordered army and navy forces to stand ready in Virginia and Charleston. The South Carolina legislature voted on November 24, 1832, to declare Jackson's tariffs null and void and prohibit their collection within the state–and it warned that any force used in an attempt to change the state's decision would force a vote of secession.

Jackson scrambled to stop the "nullies." He looked to the support of Unionists within South Carolina and moved munitions into North Carolina. In his annual message to Congress he explained that if the tariffs were found to be excessive, they would be reduced and reformed. Then, in a December proclamation, he spoke directly to South Carolina, delivering a message of nationalism and unity, explaining that the Constitution empowered him to enforce the Union's laws and asking whether South Carolina really meant to be treasonous. Finally, Jackson introduced what came to be known as the "Force Bill," which granted the government the authority necessary to enforce tariffs. Jackson knew that support across the nation stood firmly on his side, and, indeed, the combined pressures soon brought South Carolina back in the fold. As the Ordinance of Nullification did not take effect until February 1833, South Carolina offered a chance to hash out a compromise before then. It elected Calhoun a U.S. Senator, so that he could bargain in Congress for a good compromise, and so that he could resign as Vice President.

The administration welcomed the change of heart, and Jackson threw himself into crafting a new tariff bill. Clay finally introduced a bill that offered graduated reductions in the tariffs over ten years–a reckless move that would severely harm the nation's economy a decade later, but for now stood as the best option. The bill soon passed both houses of Congress. Meanwhile, Calhoun had tried and failed to kill the Force Bill, so Jackson signed both bills into law on March 2, 1833. A week later, South Carolina repealed the nullification ordinance. To celebrate, Jackson set off on a long tour of the country in the spring of 1833, visiting Staten Island and receiving an honorary degree from Harvard University.