Tariff Dbq

Tariffs are a crucial part of America’s history, as they are necessary for a society to run because the revenue gained from duties help fund a variety of things, such as education, technology, health care, defense, national debt, and the list goes on. However, taxes have been debated on whether or not it is constitutional because people claim that the taxes do not represent the people. Investing in tariffs do grant Americans benefits, but on the contrary, forcing too many duties causes economic issues, which causes anger amongst the citizens. Such is the case in the Nullification Crisis, where John Quincy Adams issued a protective tariff protecting the southern economy from British competition. While the Tariff of 1828 did accomplish its given

task, it raised the overall costs of imported goods, which the South had a difficult time to pay off. As a result, the South declares the tariff null and void within state boundaries. The Nullification Ordinance of 1833 was issued in response to the Tariff of 1833, creating a conflict between South Carolina and the government which was resolved shortly with the Compromise Tariff of 1833. The South accepted the tariff, but this led to the question of whether or not a state possessed the authority to nullify federal laws.
The Tariff of 1828 was primarily designed to protect the southern economy from British competition as well as outside imports.

The tariff succeeds in doing its job, “...however, the resulting tax on foreign goods would raise the cost of living in the south and cuts into the profit of New England industrialists” (Excerpts taken from the History House). The South becomes furious as a result because the duties took its toll on the economy. Furthermore, the tariff was essentially pointless because cotton exports were one of the least competitive areas of trade, as the South was the leading exporters of cotton at the time. However, despite the tariff being useless, it remained and was in full effect. In fact, the government declared that “...it shall be the duty of the collector to reside at such a place, and there to detain all vessels and cargoes arriving in the said district until duties imposed…by law... be paid in cash” (Excerpts from the Library of Congress). Tensions between tax collectors and the citizens grew, and eventually, the South refused to pay the duties and attacked anyone who attempted to reinforce the duties. This leads to the beginning of the Nullification Crisis, where the South declares nullification on the Tariff of 1828, which they called the Tariff of Abominations due to the depression it brought to the

economy.
South Carolina issues the Nullification Ordinance in order to address the issue of the Tariff of Abominations. This document formally announces nullification to the federal government, stating that the tariff is unconstitutional because it claimed to be protective but in reality, served the government more than it served as the voice of the people. Tax collectors become frightened and were unable to collect the taxes from the citizens because they grew violent. The South stated “...that it shall not be lawful for any of the constituted authorities, whether of this state…to enforce the payment of duties imposed” (Excerpts from Lillian Goldman Law Library, Yale Law School). Rebellion took forms in attacks on collector homes, destroying their property, tarring and feathering enforcers, and other violent mob actions. This reflects the weak governmental control the federal law had on its states. President Andrew Jackson takes action against the nullification by issuing the Proclamation Against the Nullification. He claims that the Nullification Ordinance was unreasonable because the tariffs were necessary to fund the national debt and keep the economy running. Jackson states that “...the power to annul a law of the United States, assumed by one state is incompatible with the existence of the Union…” (Excerpts from the Library of Congress). He reasons that interfering with the duty collections ultimately slow down the progress of society and harms the American economy. Despite Jackson’s comments, the South refuses to budge an inch regarding this issue. In a desperate attempt to wrest power back from the states, Jackson issues the Force Bill to keep the citizens of South Carolina under the control of the federal government. The Force Bill gave permission to Andrew Jackson and the tax collectors the right to use force if the citizens failed to comply with the Tariff of Abominations or the tax collectors themselves. The bill states “...and if any person shall receive injury to his person or property for or on account of any act by him done under any law of the United States, for the protection of the revenue or the collection of duties on imports, he shall be entitled to maintain suit for damage” (Excerpt from the Library of Congress). This was meant to frighten the South so they would yield to governmental authority. It served as a warning to the other states as well, saying that if they were to rebel or cause any trouble with the federal law, they would have the army enforcing the laws by force. Other states backed down due to the heavy consequences rebellion would bring, because the government made it clear that anything that obstructs the collection of tariffs obstructs the union’s future and the progress of humanity and should be eliminated. According to the Force Bill, it stated that “...if any person shall dispossess or rescue, or attempt to dispossess or rescue any property..such a person shall be deemed guilty” (Excerpts from the Library of Congress). The only state that continued to pursue nullification was South Carolina. In fact, they took it a step further and threatened secession if the government continues to oppress and abuse their powers. The Nullification Controversy reaches its peak, and the nation is at the brink of a civil war. Jackson, who was backed into a corner, had no choice but to negotiate with South Carolina.
In 1833, President Andrew Jackson reluctantly issues the Compromise Tariff of 1833, which was designed to gradually reduce the tax values over time.

South Carolina debated whether or not they should accept the tariff because they fought to bring the Tariff of Abominations to an end as well as to get the government to stop abusing their powers. This split the South into different factions because half of them wanted complete nullification, whereas some of them was fine with accepting the revised tariff. It was “...an act to alter and amend the several acts imposing duties on imports… one tenth of such excess shall be deducted… from the day of December, one thousand eight hundred and thirty seventh...deducted” (Excerpt from the Library of Congress). Taxes were reduced over time, but still had to be paid regardless because taxes were necessary for society to progress. “...the duties imposed by this act shall remain and continue to be collected” (Excerpts from the Library of Congress). Both sides reconciled and manages to settle on a position they are equally comfortable with. The lowered rates of the tariff reduced living costs in the South, but otherwise tax rates were approachable and less difficult to pay off. While in the middle of their negotiations, the South also nullified the Force Act because they claimed that the use of force in such a manner is unconstitutional and tyrannical. Though it was a petty act that reflects the South’s inflexibility, it was important in

terms of establishing a fine line between the government powers and the state powers. The Force Bill was repealed, and the South’s relationship with the government stays peaceful. However, lingering sentiments on the issue of nullification remained, and presented the issue of state’s rights versus governmental authority.
In conclusion, the Tariff of Abominations was introduced as a protective tariff that helped the South’s economy and industry against British competition. However, the tariff ended up doing the opposite, which leads the South to issue the Nullification Ordinance in response to the tariff, declaring it null and void. This angers the government because they refused to comply with federal law, causing them to issue the Force Bill. The South continued their nullification act and even threatened secession. The government relented in the end and repealed both the Force Bill and reduced the tariffs introduced in the Tariff of Abominations, ending the Nullification Crisis.