What is the unanswered

question of the Nullification
Crisis?
Does the federal
government have
absolute power to place
tariffs on goods?
Do the states have the
right to nullify other
states’ laws?
Does the federal
government or do the
states have greater rights
and powers?
Do the states have the
right to secede from the
union?

1 answer

The unanswered question of the Nullification Crisis primarily revolves around the balance of power between the federal government and the states. Specifically, the most pertinent question is:

Does the federal government or do the states have greater rights and powers?

The Nullification Crisis, which occurred in the early 1830s, highlighted the tensions between federal authority and state sovereignty, particularly regarding tariffs and the right of states to nullify federal laws they deemed unconstitutional. While the crisis led to significant discussions about federalism, states' rights, and the potential for secession, the central issue remained the distribution of power between state and federal governments.

Other listed questions, such as the federal government's right to impose tariffs or the legality of states' nullification of laws, are indeed connected to the crisis but are ultimately reflections of the broader debate about state versus federal power.