Final answer:
John C. Calhoun's nullification theory stated that states had the right to nullify federal laws they deemed unconstitutional, potentially leading to secession. This was a response to the Tariff of 1828, which harmed the Southern economy. Despite the threat of nullification, Andrew Jackson's opposition and push for tariff compromise prevented escalation.
Step-by-step explanation:
John C. Calhoun's Nullification Theory in "The South Carolina Exposition"
John C. Calhoun proposed the nullification theory in the "South Carolina Exposition and Protest", a doctrine asserting that states had the right to nullify, or invalidate, any federal law deemed unconstitutional by the state. Calhoun, who was the Vice President at the time, outlined this theory as a response to the Tariff of 1828, which many southerners felt was unjust and disproportionately harmful to the Southern economy. He argued that the Constitution was a compact between sovereign states and that when a particular federal law was found objectionable, a special state convention could declare that law null and void within the state's borders. Furthermore, if other states did not agree to amend the constitution to address the contested law, then the states had the right to secede from the union. However, his ideas faced pushback from President Andrew Jackson, who saw nullification as a threat to the Union and who eventually sent naval forces to South Carolina and proposed lowering the tariff to avoid conflict.
The crisis peaked when South Carolina moved towards nullification, leading to Jackson's proclamation that declared the state on the brink of insurrection. No other southern states joined South Carolina's drastic move, although some expressed sympathy. Notably, Calhoun's strategy shifted as he avoided public support for his own doctrine and later sought compromise to prevent escalating the conflict.