Why did Southerners resist the increased tariff in 1828, arguing it should be nullified?
A. It was not helpful to any section of the country.
B. It benefited one section of the country at the expense of another.
C. It increased the market for cotton.
D. It increased foreign competition.
(1 point)
B. It benefited one section of the country at the expense of another.
B. It benefited one section of the country at the expense of another.
The correct answer is B. It benefited one section of the country at the expense of another.
To arrive at this answer, we can analyze the given options and the historical context.
Option A states that the tariff was not helpful to any section of the country. While this may be true for some individuals or regions, it does not capture the specific reasons why Southerners resisted the tariff.
Option C states that the tariff increased the market for cotton. This is not accurate because the tariff, also known as the Tariff of Abominations, actually imposed higher taxes on imported goods, including cotton textiles. This, in turn, decreased the demand for cotton and led to economic hardships for Southern cotton producers.
Option D explains that the tariff increased foreign competition. Although this is also true, it does not directly address the main reason for Southern resistance to the tariff.
Option B correctly states why Southerners resisted the increased tariff in 1828. The Tariff of Abominations became a point of contention because it significantly benefited Northern industrialists and manufacturers who relied on domestic production, while placing a burden on Southern agrarian states that were heavily dependent on exporting their commodities, such as cotton, to foreign markets. As a result, Southern politicians and statesmen, including John C. Calhoun, argued for nullification, the idea that individual states could reject or nullify federal laws they deemed unconstitutional or harmful to their interests. This resistance to the tariff and the concept of nullification ultimately contributed to growing tensions between the North and South, leading up to the American Civil War.