How Did The Tariff Of Abomination Led To Civil War?

The Tariff of Abomination (1822) almost led to a civil war because it dramatically raised tariffs on imported goods, which helped manufacturers in the North but severely disrupted the Southern economy. The Tariff of Abomination was designed to protect the manufacturing-based economy in the North by dramatically raising tariffs on imported goods, making it effectively cheaper to buy American-made products rather than import them. This greatly benefited the economy in Northern states because manufacturers were now able to compete with cheaper British goods. In contrast, for the Southern states, this tariff disrupted and strained their daily living due to them having an agriculturally based economy. For example, Southern States like South Carolina,
With the passage of the Ordinance of Nullification in 1832, South Carolina wanted to assert its rights as a state by telling the federal government that they wouldn’t tolerate what they believed to be an overreach of constitutional powers. Moreover, this challenge meant that South Carolina was willing to leave the union if the federal government continued to try and enforce the tariffs. As a result, tensions escalated between South Carolina and the federal government since President Andrew Jackson took this challenge of federal authority seriously. Jackson warned South Carolina that these acts would be considered treasonous and wasn’t shy about his willingness to use force if needed. In addition, Jackson's response furthered the tension between South Carolina and the federal government, pushing the country closer to civil war. Soon after, Jackson passed the Force Bill in 1833, which allowed the federal government to use military force to get the southern states to comply with federal tariffs. The Force Act led South Carolina to pass a new Ordinance nullifying the Force Act and they began to prepare for the real possibility of civil