USA HISTORY

JACKSONIAN DEMOCRACY 1825 1850

PRESIDENT ANDREW JACKSON

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
What did Andrew Jackson do when South Carolina threatened to secede because of the Tariff of Abominations?
A
Use force to preserve the United States
B
Execute John C. Calhoun
C
Allowed South Carolina to secede temporarily
D
Veto the Tariff of Abominations
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -In November 1832 South Carolina adopted the Ordinance of Nullification, declaring the tariffs null, void, and nonbinding in the state. U.S. Pres. Andrew Jackson responded in December by issuing a proclamation that asserted the supremacy of the federal government.

Detailed explanation-2: -Pres. Andrew Jackson declared that states did not have the right of nullification and asked Congress for authority to collect the tariff by force if necessary. Congress responded with the Force Bill. The law allowed the president to relocate customs houses and to require that customs duties be paid in cash.

Detailed explanation-3: -While other southern states disagreed with the tariff, South Carolina was the only state to invoke nullification. Following a few tense months, South Carolina eventually accepted a compromise tariff in the winter of 1833. The constitutional crisis was only temporarily averted, as tensions remained throughout the Union.

Detailed explanation-4: -In the past Jackson simply acknowledged the supremacy of union over state sovereignty without taking any direct action; however, this explicit threat of secession forced him to act against these nullifiers.

Detailed explanation-5: -The convention declared the tariffs of 1828 and 1832 unconstitutional and unenforceable within the state of South Carolina after February 1, 1833. It was asserted that attempts to use force to collect the taxes would lead to the state’s secession.

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