What was the Tariff of 1828?
The Tariff of 1828, also known as the Tariff of Abominations, was a protective tariff passed by the United States Congress in 1828. It significantly increased the tariff rates on many imported goods, particularly manufactured goods. The tariff was enacted to protect American industries from foreign competition and to raise revenue for the federal government. However, it sparked controversy and was heavily criticized by Southern states, who argued that it unfairly favored Northern manufacturing interests and hurt Southern agricultural economies. The tariff became a major political issue, leading to growing sectional tensions and eventually contributing to the Nullification Crisis.
What was the purpose of Henry Clay’s compromise tariff?
Henry Clay's Compromise Tariff, also known as the Tariff of 1833, was passed as an effort to resolve the Nullification Crisis. The purpose of the Compromise Tariff was to gradually reduce the tariff rates that had been established by the Tariff of 1828, which had sparked significant opposition, particularly in the Southern states. The high tariffs were seen as harmful to the Southern economy, which relied heavily on agriculture and relied on the export of goods to foreign markets.
Clay's compromise aimed to avoid a potential armed conflict between the federal government and South Carolina, which had declared the Tariffs of 1828 and 1832 null and void within its borders. The Compromise Tariff proposed a gradual reduction of tariff rates over a period of ten years, with the goal of easing the burden on Southern states and preventing the escalation of tensions. This compromise was ultimately successful and helped to defuse the Nullification Crisis, although sectional tensions and debates over tariffs continued to play a significant role in American politics in the following years.