Historical Argument of Primary Source

Answer

Historical Argument of Primary Source

             Proclamation Regarding Nullification is a document written by Andrew Jackson on 10^th December, 1832 to oppose the state’s rights to cancel a federal law. The nullification encompassed a conflict between the federal government and South Carolina that emerged when the latter declared that the federal tariffs of 1828 and 1832 were illegal and unconstitutional within the boundaries of the South Carolina State. Intuitively, the nullification did not only affect the Congress, but also ensured that tariff rates remained low and satisfactory to South Carolina.

            In the early 1820s, the US experienced an economic recession that significantly affected South Carolina and its citizens. Most politicians from South Carolina attributed the challenges experienced in the state to the national tariff policy formulated following the  end of the Second World War to make the US based manufacturing companies more competitive than those from Europe. The contentious and extremely protective tariff of 1828, commonly known as the Tariff of Abominations, was passed during John Quincy’s administration. However, the tariff received fierce opposition from South Carolina and several other states across the New England (Brogdon, 2011).

             Towards the end of 1828, the politics of South Carolina State became organized on the concept of tariff.  Those opposing the tariffs expected that Jackson would repeal the Act when elected as the head of the state. However, when he ascended to power, Jackson failed to address these concerns and as result most radical groups within the state started pressurizing the state to pronounce the tariff unconstitutional and thus should not be applied in any part of the state (Jackson 2013). In Washington, apparent conflict between the issues occurred between President Jackson and his Vice, John C. Calhoun, one of the successful supporters of the constitutional theory of state nullification.

            On 14^th July 1832 before Calhoun stepped down as the vice president and vie for the senatorial post and have the chance to successfully defend nullification, Jackson passed the Tariff of 1832. Essentially, this compromised act was supported overwhelmingly by most northerners and a significant number of southerners present in the Congress (Jackson, 1832). The decrease in tariffs were relatively little for South Carolina and on 24^th November 1832, a state convention passed the ordinance of Nullification that pronounced that all the tariffs of 1828 and 1832 were illegal and could not be applied within the boundaries of the state. Few months’ later, the state initiated military preparation to counterattack expected federal enforcement and on 1^st March, 1833, Congress enacted both the Force Bill that gave the president the powers and authority to deploy military forces against South Carolina, as well as, a new negotiated tariff that was acceptable to South Carolina. However, on 15^th March, 1833, the South Carolina convention met again and revoked its Nullification Ordinance and few days afterwards repealed the Force Bill as a figurative indication to maintain its values and principles.

            A major consequence of President Jackson's Proclamation Regarding Nullification is that it ensured that tariff rates were reduced and remained low as required by the South. Unfortunately, the state’s rights doctrine of nullification continued to elicit heated debate. Towards the end of 1850s, the issues of spreading out slavery to western boundaries and the threat posed by the Slave Power become a major concern in the country (Jackson, 1832).

            In conclusion, as the nullification conflict unfolded, it became apparent that it was not just about the biasness of a tariff, but instead the facilitator of a huge and interesting debate. While it can be said that all the two factions emerged victorious at the end because South Carolina gained manageable tariff rates and thus never succeeded. Nonetheless, it is worth noting that Jackson and the federal government were the true victors. Essentially, Jackson managed to convey a statement that fostered the continuity of the Union setting a good example for numerous conflicts in the future. Jackson did not only stop the disintegration of the country but also clarified the implications of the constitution. Intuitively, when preserving the Union, the government has all the powers and authorities to use any available means and that was the case of President Jackson's Proclamation Regarding Nullification.