Why did Southerners resist the increased tariff in 1828, arguing it should be nullified?
(1 point)
Responses
It was not helpful to any section of the country.
It was not helpful to any section of the country.
It benefited one section of the country at the expense of another.
It benefited one section of the country at the expense of another.
It increased the market for cotton.
It increased the market for cotton.
It increased foreign competition.
It increased foreign competition.
The primary reason why Southerners resisted the increased tariff in 1828 and argued for its nullification is because they believed it benefited one section of the country (the industrial North) at the expense of another (the agricultural South).
To understand why this was a concern for the South, let's break it down further:
1. The tariff, also known as the Tariff of Abominations, imposed higher taxes on imported goods, particularly manufactured goods that the South heavily relied on. These higher taxes made it more expensive for the South to import these goods, effectively protecting Northern industries from foreign competition.
2. The South, being an agricultural region, relied heavily on exporting its agricultural products, particularly cotton, to foreign markets. The increased tariff made it more difficult for Southern states to sell their cotton in foreign markets because it led to retaliatory tariffs from other countries, reducing the market for Southern cotton.
3. Additionally, the South argued that the increased tariff disproportionately burdened Southern consumers, as they had to pay higher prices for imported manufactured goods. This further exacerbated the perception that the tariff primarily served the interests of the industrial North.
In response to these concerns, Southern states, particularly South Carolina, argued for the concept of nullification, which meant that they believed individual states had the right to nullify or void federal laws within their own borders. This was a way for the South to resist the enforcement of the tariff within their states.
Ultimately, the debate over the tariff and nullification escalated and was one of the factors that contributed to the growing tensions between the North and the South, leading to the eventual secession of Southern states and the outbreak of the American Civil War.