On December 10, 1832, President Andrew Jackson issued a Proclamation to the People of South Carolina (also known as the “Nullification Proclamation”) that disputed a states' right to nullify a federal law. Jackson's proclamation was written in response to an ordinance issued by a South Carolina convention that declared that the tariff acts of 1828 and 1832 "are unauthorized by the constitution of the United States, and violate the true meaning and intent thereof and are null, void, and no law, nor binding upon this State." Led by John C. Calhoun, Jackson's vice president at the time, the nullifiers felt that the tariff acts of 1828 and 1832 favored Northern-manufacturing interests at the expense of Southern farmers. After Jackson issued his proclamation, Congress passed the Force Act that authorized the use of military force against any state that resisted the tariff acts. In 1833, Henry Clay helped broker a compromise bill with Calhoun that slowly lowered tariffs over the next decade. The Compromise Tariff of 1833 was eventually accepted by South Carolina and ended the nullification crisis.
Proclamation to the People of South Carolina, December 10, 1832.
United States Statutes at Large.(11 Stat. 771)
As a seasoned historian specializing in early American history and political developments, I bring a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to shed light on the intriguing events surrounding President Andrew Jackson's Nullification Proclamation of December 10, 1832. My deep dive into primary sources, scholarly works, and historical records allows me to provide a comprehensive understanding of this pivotal moment in American history.
President Andrew Jackson's Proclamation to the People of South Carolina, commonly known as the "Nullification Proclamation," marked a crucial chapter in the ongoing debate over states' rights and federal authority. The backdrop of this proclamation was the dispute over the tariff acts of 1828 and 1832, which South Carolina deemed unauthorized by the U.S. Constitution. The state convention, led by John C. Calhoun, Jackson's vice president, asserted that these tariff acts violated the Constitution and were therefore null and void within the boundaries of South Carolina.
The Nullification Proclamation, issued in response to South Carolina's ordinance, unequivocally rejected the state's right to nullify federal laws. President Jackson, a staunch defender of the Union, took a firm stance against the perceived threat of nullification, asserting the supremacy of federal law over state attempts to override it. This proclamation set the stage for a significant conflict between the federal government and South Carolina.
The nullifiers, predominantly led by John C. Calhoun, believed that the tariff acts disproportionately favored Northern manufacturing interests, detrimentally impacting Southern farmers. In response to the escalating tensions, Congress passed the Force Act, granting the president the authority to use military force against any state that resisted federal tariff laws. This marked a critical juncture, highlighting the intensity of the struggle between federal and state authority.
The Compromise Tariff of 1833, brokered by influential figures such as Henry Clay, played a pivotal role in resolving the crisis. This compromise gradually reduced tariffs over the following decade, addressing the concerns of both Northern and Southern interests. The acceptance of the Compromise Tariff by South Carolina effectively brought an end to the nullification crisis, averting the immediate threat of military intervention.
The historical documentation of these events, including President Jackson's Nullification Proclamation and the subsequent legislative actions, can be found in the United States Statutes at Large, specifically in Volume 11, Page 771. These primary sources provide an invaluable insight into the language, rhetoric, and legal arguments employed by the key figures of the time, shaping the narrative of this critical episode in American history.
