Final answer:
John C. Calhoun was the vice president who played a central role in the nullification crisis, arguing that states had the right to nullify federal tariffs, leading to a major political conflict with possible secession by South Carolina.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Vice President and the Nullification Crisis
The vice president behind the nullification crisis was John C. Calhoun. This political conflict arose in the 1830s when Calhoun, disagreeing with President Andrew Jackson, resigned his vice presidency to join the Senate and continue his fight against what he and his Southern supporters deemed to be unfair tariffs. Calhoun argued for the right of states to nullify federal laws that they considered unconstitutional, specifically the Tariffs of 1828 and 1832 which were perceived as injurious to Southern economic interests. This stance escalated tensions leading South Carolina to pass an Ordinance of Nullification, which brought the United States to the brink of a possible secession by the state.
The nullification crisis was a significant event in U.S. history, reflecting the deepening sectional divide between North and South and foreshadowing the larger conflict that would lead to the American Civil War. Ultimately, the Crisis was defused when a compromise tariff was reached, and South Carolina rescinded its ordinance, mitigating the immediate threat of disunion.