Nullifiers

Definition

Nullifiers were a group of individuals, primarily from the southern states, who advocated for the doctrine of nullification - the belief that states had the right to nullify or invalidate federal laws they deemed unconstitutional. This concept was a central issue during the Nullification Crisis and the Bank War in the early 19th century.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Nullification Crisis was sparked by the Tariff of Abominations, which the Nullifiers in South Carolina claimed was unconstitutional and therefore could be nullified by the state.
2. Vice President John C. Calhoun, a leading Nullifier, argued that states had the right to nullify federal laws they deemed unconstitutional based on the Compact Theory of the Constitution.
3. President Andrew Jackson, a strong nationalist, firmly opposed the doctrine of nullification and threatened to use military force to collect the tariff if South Carolina attempted to nullify it.
4. The Nullification Crisis was ultimately resolved when Congress passed the Compromise Tariff of 1833, which gradually reduced the tariff rates over time.
5. The Nullifiers' arguments for state sovereignty and the right to nullify federal laws laid the groundwork for the later secession of the Southern states and the outbreak of the Civil War.

Review Questions

• Explain the key beliefs and arguments of the Nullifiers during the Nullification Crisis.
  • The Nullifiers, led by figures like John C. Calhoun, believed that states had the right to nullify or invalidate federal laws they deemed unconstitutional. They argued that the Constitution was a compact or agreement between the states, and therefore states had the authority to determine the constitutionality of federal legislation. The Nullifiers saw the Tariff of Abominations as an unconstitutional overreach of federal power, and they threatened to nullify the tariff in South Carolina, leading to the Nullification Crisis.
• Describe the role of President Andrew Jackson in responding to the Nullification Crisis.
  • President Andrew Jackson, a strong nationalist, firmly opposed the doctrine of nullification championed by the Nullifiers. He threatened to use military force to collect the tariff if South Carolina attempted to nullify it, stating that he would 'hang the first man I can lay my hand on' who tried to resist federal authority. Jackson's resolute stance against nullification and his willingness to use force to preserve the Union set the stage for a showdown with the Nullifiers, ultimately leading to the resolution of the crisis through the Compromise Tariff of 1833.
• Analyze the long-term impact of the Nullifiers' arguments for state sovereignty and the right to nullify federal laws.
  • The Nullifiers' arguments for state sovereignty and the right to nullify federal laws laid the groundwork for the later secession of the Southern states and the outbreak of the Civil War. By asserting that states had the authority to determine the constitutionality of federal legislation and to nullify laws they deemed unconstitutional, the Nullifiers were challenging the fundamental principles of federalism and the supremacy of the national government. This sowed the seeds of the growing divide between the North and the South, ultimately leading to the Southern states' decision to secede and the outbreak of the devastating Civil War. The Nullifiers' legacy continued to influence the political landscape and the ongoing debate over the balance of power between the states and the federal government.

Related terms

Nullification: The doctrine that states have the right to declare federal laws unconstitutional and therefore null and void within their borders.

Tariff of Abominations: A high protective tariff enacted in 1828 that was deeply unpopular in the South, leading to the Nullification Crisis.

Compact Theory of the Constitution: The belief that the Constitution was a compact or agreement between the states, and therefore states had the right to nullify federal laws they deemed unconstitutional.