Compromise Tariff of 1833

The Compromise Tariff of 1833 was a legislative agreement that helped resolve the Nullification Crisis in the United States. This crisis arose from South Carolina's opposition to the high tariffs of 1828 and 1832, which they believed harmed their economy and infringed upon states' rights. South Carolina declared these tariffs null and void, threatening to secede from the Union if the federal government enforced them.12

To de-escalate the situation, Congress passed the Force Bill, authorizing the use of federal force to collect tariffs. Simultaneously, Senator Henry Clay engineered the Compromise Tariff of 1833. This new tariff gradually reduced the controversial rates over a decade, ultimately satisfying South Carolina's demands and averting secession.12