- The Tariff of 1828, also known as the Tariff of Abominations, imposed high duties on imported goods, particularly manufactured items. This significantly increased the cost of goods for southerners, who relied heavily on imported manufactured goods.
- The tariff protected Northern industries, which benefited from increased demand and profits. However, it made goods more expensive for Southern consumers and the region's economy suffered.
2. States' Rights:
- Southerners argued that the tariff violated the principle of states' rights. They believed that the federal government had overstepped its authority by imposing such high tariffs, which favored certain regions at the expense of others.
- Many Southern states felt that the federal government was overstepping its bounds by interfering in the economy.
3. Regional Tensions:
- The tariff exacerbated existing tensions between the North and the South. Southerners felt that the federal government, dominated by Northern interests, was acting against their economic well-being.
- The tariff heightened tensions between the North and the South, as southerners felt discriminated against and economically disadvantaged.
4. Nullification Crisis:
- The Tariff of 1828 led to the Nullification Crisis, a major constitutional crisis in which the state of South Carolina threatened to secede from the Union if the tariff was not repealed.
- South Carolina argued that it had the right to nullify (declare void) the tariff within its borders, challenging the federal government's authority.
In summary, southerners were upset with the Tariff of 1828 due to its negative economic impact on their region, the perceived violation of states' rights, the growing regional tensions, and the threat of nullification that it spurred.