Nullification Crisis of 1832: Precursor to Civil War
Calhoun of South Carolina was a staunch defender of states' rights
Portrait of John C. Calhoun
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By Robert McNamara
Updated on April 28, 2025
Key Takeaways
South Carolina tried to ignore federal laws they didn't like, called nullification, in 1832.
John C. Calhoun's idea of states' rights upset many people and made a big fight happen.
Even though there was no fighting then, these problems later led to the Civil War.
The nullification crisis arose in 1832 when leaders of South Carolina advanced the idea that a state did not have to follow federal law and could, in effect, "nullify" the law. The state passed the South Carolina Act of Nullification in November 1832, which said in effect that South Carolina could ignore federal law, or nullify it if the state found the law to be damaging to its interests or deemed it unconstitutional. This effectively meant the state could override any federal law.
The idea that "states' rights" superseded federal law was promoted by South Carolinian John C. Calhoun, vice president in Andrew Jackson's first term as president, one of the most experienced and powerful politicians in the country at the time. And the resulting crisis was, to some extent, a precursor to the secession crisis that would trigger the Civil War 30 years later, in which South Carolina also was a primary player.
https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-nullification-crisis-1773387Think of this in terms of sanctuary cities where states laws can supersede federal law. That was settled over 220 years ago and here we are again with democrats throwing out mantra rejected long ago. But it wouldn't surprise me if some liberal, activist judge would declare the settled law too old or some such thing to make sure democrats can have their attempt at dismissing the rule of law and further shredding the Constitution.
