Question

Difficulty: EasyJackson and Federal Power Conflicts

"I consider, then, the power to annul a law of the United States, assumed by one State, incompatible with the existence of the Union, contradicted expressly by the letter of the Constitution, unauthorized by its spirit, inconsistent with every principle on which it was founded, and destructive of the great object for which it was formed."
— President Andrew Jackson, Proclamation to the People of South Carolina, 1832

The ideas expressed in the excerpt were most directly written in response to South Carolina's attempt to do which of the following?

  1. Nullify federal tariff legislation within its bordersAnswer
  2. B
    Overturn a Supreme Court decision regarding Native American lands
  3. C
    Reestablish the decentralized government structure of the Articles of Confederation
  4. D
    Expand international trade agreements in violation of the Monroe Doctrine

Answer

Nullify federal tariff legislation within its borders
President Andrew Jackson issued the Nullification Proclamation in 1832 directly in response to South Carolina's attempt to nullify the federal tariffs of 1828 and 1832 within its borders, arguing that state nullification was incompatible with the Constitution and the preservation of the Union.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the source text to identify the central argument.
The author (Andrew Jackson) is arguing against a state's claim of having the power to 'annul a law of the United States.'
This establishes that the conflict is about state nullification of federal law.
2
Recall the historical context of Andrew Jackson's presidency in 1832.
In 1832, South Carolina passed an Ordinance of Nullification declaring the federal Tariffs of 1828 and 1832 null and void within its borders.
This matches the specific action ('annul a law') and year (1832) described in the excerpt's citation.
3
Select the option that matches this historical development.
South Carolina's action of nullifying the federal tariff is the direct trigger for Jackson's proclamation.
This identifies the correct option based on the text's clear rejection of state nullification.

Key Concept

The Nullification Crisis and Federal Authority
Estimated Time:45s
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