Britannica Sources used in this answer

What caused the Nullification Crisis of 1832–33?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Jackson's “Proclamation to the People of South Carolina” — Nullification Crisis U.S. Pres. Andrew Jackson issued his “Proclamation to the People of South Carolina” on December 10, 1832, in response to South Carolina's refusal to be bound by federal tariffs. In it Jackson asserted the supremacy of the federal government and rejected South Carolina's argument that it, as a state, had the right to reject laws made by the federal government that it deemed unconstitutional. Jackson's proclamation was an escalation of the Nullification Crisis, and some argue that it helped lay the foundation for the American Civil War.

The Nullification Crisis of 1832–33 was primarily caused by a confrontation between the state of South Carolina and the federal government over protective tariffs.12

Key factors driving the crisis included:

Economic Distress: The Tariff of 1828, dubbed the "Tariff of Abominations," significantly inflated the cost of imported goods. Southern planters, who relied heavily on foreign trade, feared these high rates would irreparably damage their economy.32
Constitutional Theory: Led by John C. Calhoun, proponents argued that the U.S. Constitution was a compact of sovereign states. They believed states possessed the right to "nullify"—or block the enforcement of—federal laws they deemed unconstitutional.12
Political Escalation: When the Tariff Act of 1832 failed to provide sufficient relief, South Carolina adopted the Ordinance of Nullification, declaring the tariffs void and threatening secession.234

While ostensibly about trade policy, many historians believe the crisis was also rooted in Southern anxieties regarding the growing Northern movement for the abolition of slavery.1