The Tariff of 1828, also known as the Tariff of Abominations, was a protective tariff passed by the United States Congress on May 19, 1828. It was designed to protect American industries from foreign competition by imposing high taxes on imported goods. The tariff significantly increased taxes on imported goods such as textiles, iron, and manufactured goods.
The Tariff of 1828 was highly controversial and led to strong opposition, especially in the southern states. The southern agrarian economy relied heavily on exports and imported goods, and the high taxes imposed by the tariff were seen as favoring northern manufacturers at the expense of southern interests. Critics argued that the tariff unfairly burdened southern states and threatened to harm the agricultural export industry.
The Tariff of 1828 sparked a political debate that would ultimately lead to the nullification crisis. Southern states, particularly South Carolina, claimed that the tariff was unconstitutional and passed an ordinance declaring the tariff null and void within the state's borders. This challenge to federal authority was eventually resolved through a compromise known as the Tariff of 1833, which gradually reduced the rates of the tariff over a period of several years.
What was the Tariff of 1828?
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