Question

South Carolina relied heavily on trading during the antebellum period. When tariffs were placed on all imported goods, South Carolina began talking of seceding from the Union in order to operate as an independent state. Then it could create laws that served its best interests. This event is known as the

Answer 1

Typically known as the "Nullification Crisis". South Carolina's first thoughts were not of secession. Once Congress passed tariffs were placed on imported manufactured good (not all imported goods; placing a tariff on only manufactured goods led to profit for the North and detriment to the South), South Carolina threatened to nullify the tariff within their borders. Once Congress passed a new tariff and Andrew Jackson threatened to use the military to force them to pay it, they nullified and THEN threatened to secede if Jackson used force. The crisis was averted by clever compromises set up by Henry Clay. As a result of this crisis, South Carolina bore resentment to the Federal Government, the vice president John C. Calhoun resigned, and a civil war in the 1830s was narrowly avoided.