In 1832, South Carolina threatened to secede from the Union primarily over the issue of tariffs, specifically the Tariff of 1828, which was also known as the “Tariff of Abominations.” South Carolina’s leaders believed that these tariffs unfairly benefited the northern states at the expense of the southern economy, which relied heavily on imported goods.
The state argued that the federal government was overstepping its boundaries by imposing tariffs that negatively impacted the southern states. To defend their position, South Carolina adopted the doctrine of nullification, which claimed that states had the right to void any federal law that they deemed unconstitutional. This prompted a significant confrontation with the federal government, leading to a heated debate over states’ rights versus federal authority.
The crisis was ultimately resolved when Congress passed a compromise tariff in 1833, reducing the duties that had caused so much discontent. However, the tension between state and federal power continued to simmer in the years leading up to the Civil War.