Tariff

Definition

A tariff is a tax or duty imposed on goods imported into a country. Tariffs are used by governments as a means of raising revenue, protecting domestic industries, and influencing the flow of trade between nations. In the context of 10.3 The Nullification Crisis and the Bank War, tariffs played a crucial role in the political and economic tensions that arose between the federal government and individual states.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Tariff of 1828, also known as the 'Tariff of Abominations', was a high protective tariff that angered Southern states, particularly South Carolina, who saw it as favoring Northern industrial interests over agrarian Southern ones.
2. South Carolina's threat to nullify the Tariff of 1828 led to the Nullification Crisis, a major constitutional conflict between the federal government and individual states.
3. President Andrew Jackson's firm stance against nullification and his threat to use military force to collect the tariff duties contributed to the escalation of the Nullification Crisis.
4. The Bank War, a conflict between President Andrew Jackson and the Second Bank of the United States, was also influenced by the tariff issue, as Jackson saw the bank as an ally of the pro-tariff Northern interests.
5. The Compromise Tariff of 1833, which gradually reduced tariff rates over time, helped to resolve the Nullification Crisis, but tensions between the federal government and the states continued to simmer.

Review Questions

• Explain how the Tariff of 1828, also known as the 'Tariff of Abominations', contributed to the Nullification Crisis.
  • The Tariff of 1828 was a high protective tariff that angered Southern states, particularly South Carolina, who saw it as favoring Northern industrial interests over agrarian Southern ones. This led South Carolina to threaten to nullify the tariff, which sparked the Nullification Crisis, a major constitutional conflict between the federal government and individual states. The Tariff of 1828 was a key catalyst in the escalation of tensions between the federal government and the states, as it highlighted the divergent economic interests and political philosophies that were dividing the nation.
• Describe the role of President Andrew Jackson in the Nullification Crisis and how it was influenced by the tariff issue.
  • President Andrew Jackson's firm stance against nullification and his threat to use military force to collect the tariff duties contributed to the escalation of the Nullification Crisis. Jackson saw the tariff issue as a fundamental challenge to the authority of the federal government, and he was determined to assert the supremacy of the Constitution and the Union over the claims of individual states. The Bank War, a conflict between Jackson and the Second Bank of the United States, was also influenced by the tariff issue, as Jackson saw the bank as an ally of the pro-tariff Northern interests. Jackson's actions during the Nullification Crisis and the Bank War demonstrated his commitment to preserving the Union and his willingness to use the power of the presidency to confront the challenges posed by state-level resistance to federal policies.
• Analyze the long-term implications of the Nullification Crisis and the role of tariffs in the growing tensions between the North and the South that ultimately led to the Civil War.
  • The Nullification Crisis and the tariff issue highlighted the growing divide between the North and the South, which would ultimately contribute to the outbreak of the Civil War. The Tariff of 1828, which was seen as favoring Northern industrial interests over the agrarian South, was a key factor in the escalation of tensions between the federal government and individual states. The Nullification Crisis demonstrated the willingness of some states to challenge the authority of the federal government, and it set the stage for future conflicts over the balance of power between the states and the Union. While the Compromise Tariff of 1833 helped to resolve the immediate crisis, the underlying tensions remained, and the tariff issue continued to be a source of political and economic conflict between the North and the South in the years leading up to the Civil War. The Nullification Crisis and the role of tariffs in the growing sectional divide illustrate the complex and intertwined nature of the political, economic, and social forces that ultimately led to the outbreak of the Civil War.

Related terms

Protectionism:

An economic policy that restricts or regulates trade between nations in order to protect domestic industries and jobs.

Nullification:

The legal doctrine that a state has the right to nullify or refuse to enforce a federal law that the state deems unconstitutional.

Secession:

The formal withdrawal of a state from the United States, often in response to federal policies or actions.