Nullification Crisis and its Impact on U.S. History - Research Paper Example

Nullification Crisis and its Impact on U.S. HistoryThe present face of the U.S. as the world leader has a part of its history of rigorous fights between Federal laws and State rights which resulted in widespread depression of industries. Certain changes implemented by the Federal government related to the tariff bill were largely criticized as a tool for the industrial promotion in the North. With this change, the political conditions worsened across the South, and as a result, the State of South Carolina advocated the State’s right to nullify the imposition or operation of Federal laws by early 1830s, and the resultant actions were jointly called ‘the nullification crisis’.

When the cultural rights of the citizens and the economic safety of migrant residents were seriously challenged against the interest of the Supreme Court, the assumed authority by the states to decline the instructions of the Federal government initially gave liberty to people in their economic activities. As stated by historians like Bancroft, the development of nullification process strengthened and reached at the peak by 1833, when President Jackson was openly opposed by Governor Hayne of South Carolina against a new ill introduced in the senate for imposing heavy excise duties on States to support the national banking for fiscal stability (71-72).

Following this, the succeeding governor of the state, Mr. Calhoun reassured the importance of the State’s policies to stand against the Federal laws.During the nullification crisis stage, the increasing dependence on northern commodities by southern manufacturers and businessmen created severe economic disparity between the two regions. Also, Jackson’s supporters were not in favor banking and business sectors mainly with a view to disrupt the region’s growth. This condition invoked the feelings of being regionally biased by the Jackson government among the Southerners.

Also, as Stewart believes, Jackson’s approach towards the Indians demanding them to shift or evacuate from the rich democratic regions gave him a dictatorial image which resulted in the protesting union of the minorities of South Western America (51-53). The outcome of the nullification attempts under the South Carolina state was in the form of a Force Bill by the federal government with enforcement of revenues and taxes. Moreover, the denial of federal laws was a charge of treason. The fertile agricultural lands and the productive sectors of industries in the Southern states were neglected for the interest of the Northern businessmen among the supporters of Jackson.

The entire revenue sources for the South were eventually frozen to bring them under the control of the Federal laws; however, Calhoun’s leadership was inspiring enough to motivate the people of South Carolina to continue their faith in the state laws. As Hickey points out, the period of political and economic crisis was enormously intense and was potent enough to provoke a civil war between the South and the North. From all the actions of Jackson, it is noticeable that his intention was to enforce the upper hand of federal law over state law.

By the end, while considering the geographic and demographic diversities and the feasibility of states to develop quicker with their independent systems, it is advisable that the constitutional right of states to nullify Federal laws for the union’s interest is highly important for the peace and prosperity of the country.Works CitedBancroft, Hubert. H. The Great Republic by the Master Historians. US: Kessinger Publishing, 2004. Print. Hickey, Nancee. The Nullification Crisis. Web 20 April 2012 Stewart, Mark.

The Indian Removal Act: Forced Relocation. Minneapolis: Compass Point Books, 2006. Print.