American History: Examining Jackson's Presidency and its Impact

This assignment examines Andrew Jackson's presidency and the Nullification Crisis of 1832-1833. It details Jackson's core beliefs regarding federal government power and presidential leadership, including his commitment to preserving the Union. The assignment analyzes the events surrounding the tariff of 1828, South Carolina's opposition, and John C. Calhoun's nullification theory. It further discusses Jackson's response, including the 'Proclamation to the People of South Carolina' and the Force Bill, which asserted federal authority. The assignment highlights how Jackson's actions influenced the political landscape and his role in the historical context.

Running head: AMERICAN HISTORY
American History
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Author Note

AMERICAN HOSTORY
A. The two absolute beliefs that Andrew Jackson had as a political leader and brought to his
presidency were:
1. He believed that the functions of federal government should be reduced. So he promoted such
economic programs that decreased the governmental power.
2. He was engaged in committed forceful presidential leadership. He believed that preservation
of union is necessary to achieve that.
B. The Nullification Crisis: During 1832-1833 the political confrontation between the federal
government and the South Carolina state is known as the Nullification crisis. The tariff of 1828
was employed in order to decrease the foreign competition in the American manufacturing
market and imposed high tax upon the imported manufacturers. The southern states argued that
the tariff was only in favor of the northern industry. John C. Calhoun, the vice president at
Andrew Jackson’s presidency and inhabitant of South Carolina proposed the nullification theory
that made the tariff unenforceable and unconstitutional. This constitutional theory helped to
establish the state’s right to nullify the acts of federal government within its boundaries. The
ordinance of Nullification declared that if the federal government enforced to collect any tariffs
from the southern state, it could apply secession. However, South Carolina did not succeed to
gather support from other states.
C. President Andrew Jackson transformed the federal tariff into law that South Carolina did not
agree with. In response to this, President Andrew Jackson on December 10th of the same year
issued “Proclamation to the People of South Carolina,” in order to reestablish the federal

AMERICAN HOSTORY
government’s supremacy over the state government. He passed the Force Bill in 1833 that
allowed him to use military forces to collect the tariff duties in necessary. This made the
president a hero to the American nationalists of that time. The March 15 convention of South
Carolina nullified the Force Bill.