Document 3 - In 1828, the US Congress passed a law known commonly as the “Tariff of Abominations”, named as such by VP John C Ca
lhoun who felt it was an illegal use of congressional powers. He named this tax an abominable one because the tax was primarily on imported manufactured goods, and felt it was an affront to the Southern economy that was agricultural in nature; reliant on the North & foreign countries for manufactured goods. In 1832, after the passage of another tariff, South Carolina declared the tariffs null and void, refused to pay them, and threatened to leave the Union. President Andrew Jackson responded swiftly with the “Force Bill” that asked Congress to authorize the power to use military force to ensure that states adhered to Federal law. Below is a map of the US Congress House of Representatives vote on the Force Bill of 1833. Which states mostly supported the use of Federal military force to enforce laws - northern states or southern states? What does this indicate about their view on state’s rights?
Northern states or the Unionsupported the use of Federal military force to enforce laws. Though all the states have independent functionality, some laws which are of national significance, with the consent of the state will be enforced by the federal government.
Explanation
Tariff of abominations is a series of taxes inflicted on the imported goods based on the region of the country. South believed that these taxes targeted their states as southern states mostly relied on imports in order to stabilize their economy. It is abominable and mostly disgusted by the southerners.
But when there is unlawful obstructions raised by specific groups against the constitution and not allowing supreme court to give it final rulings, then the president can enforce militia in order to enforce federal laws. This happened with the state South Carolina which refused to pay the import duties and it warned that it would secede from the Union. This was addressed with wrath and annoyance by Jackson who advocated military support to enforce the federal laws.
