Why did Southerners resist the increased tariff in 1828, arguing it should be nullified
Southerners resisted the increased tariff in 1828, arguing that it should be nullified for a few main reasons:
1. Economic Impact: The increased tariff disproportionately affected the Southern states, which relied heavily on imported goods such as raw materials and manufactured products. The South had an agrarian economy that depended on exporting cotton and other agricultural products, and importing cheaper manufactured goods. The higher tariff made imported goods more expensive, reducing the profitability of Southern exports and increasing the cost of living for Southerners.
2. Sectionalism: The tariff issue deepened the divide between the Northern and Southern states. Southerners felt that the increased tariff was a deliberate attempt by the Northern manufacturing states to protect their industries by burdening Southern agriculture. They saw it as a manifestation of Northern economic dominance and unfair sectional bias.
3. Nullification Theory: Southerners like John C. Calhoun, a prominent South Carolina politician, developed the Nullification Theory. According to this theory, states had the right to nullify or reject federal laws they considered unconstitutional. Southerners argued that the tariff of 1828 violated the Constitution as it favored Northern interests at the expense of the Southern states. They claimed that nullification was a means to protect individual states' rights and prevent economic exploitation.
Overall, Southern resistance to the increased tariff was driven by economic concerns, the perception of sectional bias, and the belief in states' rights to nullify unconstitutional federal laws. This eventually led to a significant rift between the North and South, which contributed to tensions that culminated in the American Civil War.