Why did South Carolina nullify the Force Bill after repealing its nullification of the tariffs?
South Carolina’s decision to nullify the Force Bill after repealing its nullification of the tariffs was a symbolic gesture intended to uphold the state's political principles.12
While the state had agreed to comply with the Compromise Tariff of 1833, which addressed their economic grievances by substantially reducing import duties, they remained ideologically opposed to the federal government's assertion of authority. By formally nullifying the Force Bill, South Carolina maintained its stance that the federal government lacked the constitutional right to use military force to coerce a state, even though the bill's provisions were effectively rendered unnecessary by the new tariff legislation. This act allowed the state to save face and assert its commitment to the doctrine of nullification without further escalating the crisis.12