Why did Southerners resist the increased tariff in 1828, arguing it should be nullified?
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) One reason why Southerners resisted the increased tariff in 1828 and argued that it should be nullified is because they believed it unfairly benefited Northern industrialists at the expense of Southern agricultural interests. The tariff, often referred to as the "Tariff of Abominations," imposed high import taxes on foreign goods, particularly manufactured goods that the South relied on. This made imported goods more expensive for Southerners and threatened their ability to compete economically.
Southern states, which primarily relied on agriculture, felt that the tariff protected Northern industries and manufacturers while harming their own economy. The South resented being forced to pay higher prices for manufactured goods and feared that their agricultural products would face retaliatory tariffs from foreign countries, making it even more difficult for them to export their goods.
Additionally, Southerners believed that the federal government was overstepping its powers and violating states' rights by imposing the tariff. They argued that it was unconstitutional and that states had the right to nullify, or reject, federal laws they deemed unconstitutional. This idea of nullification had its roots in the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions of 1798, which argued that states had the power to declare federal laws null and void if they considered them to be unconstitutional.
Overall, Southerners resisted the increased tariff in 1828 because they believed it favored Northern industrial interests, harmed their agricultural economy, and violated states' rights. They sought to nullify the tariff as a means of protecting their economic interests and asserting their belief in states' sovereignty.