The underlying factor behind the Nullification Crisis was the disagreement over the extent of states' rights versus federal power. Specifically, the conflict arose over the issue of tariffs imposed by the federal government, which Southern states, particularly South Carolina, felt were unfair and burdensome. This led to the belief among some states that they had the right to nullify, or declare invalid, federal laws that they deemed unconstitutional. The Nullification Crisis highlighted the ongoing tension between state sovereignty and federal authority in the United States.
