Ordinance of Nullification

The Ordinance of Nullification was adopted by South Carolina in 1832, declaring federal tariffs of 1828 and 1832 to be void within the state. This action was a key event in the Nullification Crisis, a conflict between South Carolina and the federal government. South Carolina politician John C. Calhoun argued that the U.S. Constitution granted states the right to nullify federal laws they deemed unconstitutional. President Andrew Jackson opposed this view, asserting federal supremacy and issuing a proclamation against nullification. The crisis was resolved when Congress passed a compromise tariff, leading South Carolina to rescind its ordinance, though it later nullified the Force Bill. This event highlighted tensions over states' rights and federal authority.123