Final answer:
In response to South Carolina's threat to nullify the federal tariffs, President Andrew Jackson prepared for potential insurrection with a show of naval force and supported the Force Bill to enforce tariff collection. However, the crisis was resolved peacefully through legislation that gradually lowered the tariff, allowing both sides to claim a form of victory.
Step-by-step explanation:
President Andrew Jackson's Response to South Carolina's Nullification Threat
In 1830, as part of the nullification crisis, South Carolina expressed its intention to nullify the federal tariffs, which led President Andrew Jackson to take decisive action. Initially, Jackson increased the naval presence in Charleston to ensure that tariff revenues would be collected.
Not long after, in a proclamation on December 10, 1832, Jackson declared South Carolina to be on the brink of insurrection and treason, essentially regarding their movement as a threat to national unity. While Jackson cherished states' rights, he believed in the paramount importance of majority rule and the preservation of the Union. Jackson's rejection of nullification was rooted in the Constitution's authority given to Congress to collect taxes and the need for a united nation under federal laws. To enforce this, he supported the Force Bill, granting him authority to collect tariffs forcefully, if necessary. However, the looming conflict was resolved through the collaborative efforts of Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun, leading to the Compromise Tariff of 1833, which was accepted by South Carolina, gradually lowering the tariff over ten years to give time for adjustment to an unprotected market.