APUSH: Period 4, 1800-1848 - The Nullification Crisis and Bank War

Why This Matters

The Nullification Crisis and Bank War (1832-1836) are pivotal events in American history that demonstrate the struggle for power between the federal government and individual states. This crisis highlights the ongoing debate over states' rights versus federal authority, a central theme in APUSH. The Nullification Crisis, in particular, showcases the limits of federal power and the consequences of secession, foreshadowing the American Civil War. Understanding this period is crucial for grasping the complexities of American identity, politics, and power.

Key Events & People

• Andrew Jackson: 7th U.S. President (1829-1837), vetoed the re-charter of the Second Bank of the United States, sparking the Bank War.
• Nullification Crisis (1832): South Carolina's attempt to nullify federal tariffs, leading to a confrontation with President Jackson.
• Force Bill (1833): Congress passed a bill authorizing the use of military force to enforce federal laws in South Carolina.
• Henry Clay: U.S. Senator from Kentucky, proposed the Compromise Tariff of 1833 to resolve the Nullification Crisis.
• John Calhoun: U.S. Senator from South Carolina, advocated for states' rights and nullification.
• Second Bank of the United States: chartered in 1816, but vetoed by President Jackson in 1832, leading to the Bank War.
• Nicholas Biddle: President of the Second Bank of the United States, clashed with President Jackson over the bank's re-charter.
• Tariff of 1832: a federal tariff that South Carolina attempted to nullify, leading to the Nullification Crisis.
• Compromise Tariff of 1833: a federal tariff that reduced tariffs to levels lower than those in the Tariff of 1832, resolving the Nullification Crisis.

Cause & Effect Chain

• Cause: President Jackson's veto of the re-charter of the Second Bank of the United States.
• Effect: The Bank War, which led to a confrontation between the federal government and the states.
• Long-term consequence: The Nullification Crisis foreshadowed the American Civil War, highlighting the ongoing debate over states' rights versus federal authority.

Essential Vocabulary

• Nullification: the act of a state declaring a federal law null and void within its borders.
• States' rights: the idea that individual states have the power to govern themselves and make their own decisions.
• Federalism: the system of government in which power is divided between the federal government and individual states.
• Tariff: a tax on imported goods.
• Bank War: a conflict between President Jackson and the Second Bank of the United States over the bank's re-charter.
• Compromise: a settlement or agreement reached through negotiation.
• Nullification Crisis: a confrontation between the federal government and South Carolina over the state's attempt to nullify federal tariffs.
• Federal authority: the power of the federal government to enforce its laws and regulations.
• Secession: the act of a state or territory withdrawing from the United States.

Common Student Mistakes

• What students often get wrong: Confusing the Nullification Crisis with the American Civil War.
• Correction: The Nullification Crisis was a confrontation between the federal government and South Carolina over tariffs, while the American Civil War was a full-scale conflict between the Union and the Confederacy.
• What students often get wrong: Believing that President Jackson was a strong supporter of states' rights.
• Correction: President Jackson was actually a strong supporter of federal authority and opposed South Carolina's attempt to nullify federal tariffs.
• What students often get wrong: Thinking that the Second Bank of the United States was a private bank.
• Correction: The Second Bank of the United States was a federal bank, chartered by Congress to stabilize the national currency.

DBQ / LEQ Connections

• Document-based question (DBQ): Analyze the causes and consequences of the Nullification Crisis. Be sure to include the following evidence:
  • The Nullification Ordinance of 1832, which declared federal tariffs null and void in South Carolina.
  • President Jackson's veto message, which argued that states did not have the power to nullify federal laws.
  • The Compromise Tariff of 1833, which reduced tariffs to levels lower than those in the Tariff of 1832.
• Long essay question (LEQ): Compare and contrast the views of President Jackson and John Calhoun on the role of the federal government in American society. Be sure to include the following evidence:
  • President Jackson's veto message, which argued that states did not have the power to nullify federal laws.
  • John Calhoun's speech on nullification, which argued that states had the right to nullify federal laws.
  • The Nullification Ordinance of 1832, which declared federal tariffs null and void in South Carolina.

Quick Self?Check

1. What was the main issue in the Nullification Crisis? Answer: The main issue was South Carolina's attempt to nullify federal tariffs.
2. Who vetoed the re-charter of the Second Bank of the United States? Answer: President Andrew Jackson.
3. What was the result of the Nullification Crisis? Answer: The Compromise Tariff of 1833, which reduced tariffs to levels lower than those in the Tariff of 1832.

Last?Minute Cram Sheet

• The Nullification Crisis was a confrontation between the federal government and South Carolina over tariffs.
• President Jackson vetoed the re-charter of the Second Bank of the United States in 1832.
• The Compromise Tariff of 1833 reduced tariffs to levels lower than those in the Tariff of 1832.
• The Nullification Ordinance of 1832 declared federal tariffs null and void in South Carolina.
• The Second Bank of the United States was a federal bank, chartered by Congress to stabilize the national currency.
• The Nullification Crisis foreshadowed the American Civil War.
• President Jackson was a strong supporter of federal authority.
• The Tariff of 1832 was a federal tariff that South Carolina attempted to nullify.
• The Bank War was a conflict between President Jackson and the Second Bank of the United States over the bank's re-charter.
• The Nullification Crisis was a test of federal authority and states' rights.