Discuss the confrontation between the federal government and South Carolina over the issue of state versus national sovereignty. How was the issue resolved and with what consequences?

The confrontation between the federal government and South Carolina over the issue of state versus national sovereignty reached a boiling point in the 1830s with the Nullification Crisis. South Carolina, led by states' rights advocate John C. Calhoun, believed that states had the right to nullify federal laws they deemed unconstitutional. This directly challenged the authority of the federal government and threatened to undermine the unity of the nation.

The issue came to a head when South Carolina passed the Nullification Ordinance in 1832, declaring the federal tariffs of 1828 and 1832 null and void within the state. In response, President Andrew Jackson issued the Nullification Proclamation, asserting the supremacy of federal law and threatening to use military force to enforce it.

The crisis was ultimately resolved through a series of compromises. The Compromise Tariff of 1833, proposed by Henry Clay, gradually reduced the tariffs over a period of 10 years, addressing South Carolina's concerns about the economic impact of the tariffs. Additionally, Congress passed the Force Bill, which authorized the president to use military force to enforce federal laws.

The consequences of the Nullification Crisis were significant. While the immediate threat of secession was averted, the underlying tensions between states' rights and federal authority continued to simmer, ultimately contributing to the outbreak of the Civil War decades later. The crisis also highlighted the ongoing struggle to define the balance of power between the states and the federal government, a debate that continues to shape American politics and constitutional law to this day.