US History

U.S. History Study Guide

©2018 of 194 John C. Calhoun, a South Carolina native, led a fight, saying the state denounced the tariff as unconstitutional on the grounds that Congress could only levy taxes that raised revenue for the common good, not to protect regional interests. Calhoun argued that federal laws must benefit all equally in order to be constitutional and urged southern states to nullify or void the tariff. 10.5 South Carolina Exposition and Protest Calhoun’s justification for nullification, published in his South Carolina Exposition and Protest , was based from Jefferson and Madison’s arguments in the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions in 1798. Calhoun, like Jefferson and Madison, argued that the states were sovereign over the central government and the states should have the final authority to judge the constitutionality of laws affecting their regions. Calhoun felt that all powers the Constitution did not explicitly delegate to the federal government fell to the states. Jackson came into office in 1829, after the publication of Calhoun’s protest. Southern interests hoped that Jackson would modify the “Tariff of Abominations,” especially since Calhoun served as Jackson’s vice president. Jackson did pass a modified tariff in 1832; the changes did not satisfy many southerners. By 1832, Calhoun was so furious over the tariff bills that he resigned from office and returned home to South Carolina. In November 1832, the South Carolina legislature approved Calhoun’s Ordinance of Nullification, which nullified the tariffs and ordered state officials to stop collecting import tax at South Carolina’s ports. South Carolina said it would secede if the national government enforced forced tax collection. Jackson responded quickly, denouncing the nullifiers and sending arms to loyal Unionists in South Carolina. He personally threatened Calhoun saying he would hang him from the first tree he saw, Calhoun was visibly scared. Instead, Jackson signed the two-part Compromise of 1833. The Tariff of 1833 provided for a gradual lowering of duties over the next decade. The second measure, the Force Bill, authorized the president to use the U.S. Army and Navy, if necessary, to force the collection of customs duties in South Carolina. South Carolina at first nullified the Force Bill, but under threat of force, reconsidered and rescinded its previous nullifications. 10.6 Nat Turner's Revolt In 1831, a slave named Nat Turner led a slave rebellion in Virginia. Turner was actually a minister who taught to a large flock of black followers andwas able to organize and lead through his ministries. He devised a plan with his parishioners and others that would dramatically shake not only Virginia but the entire South. Turner and a group of followers killed upwards of sixty white men, women, and children on August 21, 1831. Turner and his conspirators were captured and executed, but the incident continued to haunt Southern whites. The goal of Nat Turner's slave revolt was to catapult the Southern Whites into a state of total terror. Blacks were randomly killed; many were beheaded and their heads left along the roads to warn Achieve Page 125