1. Foldable Notes Graphic Organizer
End Goal: A graphic organizer with 6 labeled sections for notes.
1. Fold a piece of paper lengthwise with a quarter inch flap left at the bottom.
2. Fold the paper into thirds. Remember when folding into thirds, the portion that you fold over is approximately the same size as the remaining side.

2. Foldable Notes Graphic Organizer
From this to this.
3. Fold paper one last time. This time in half.
4. Unfold. You should have six sections. Label the bottom flap “Nullification - the idea that a state has the right to invalidate a federal law.”
Nullification - the idea that a state has the right to invalidate a federal law

3. Foldable Notes Graphic Organizer
5. Label each flap from left to right:
1798 Alien and Sedition Acts
1799 Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions
1812 Hartford Convention
1827 Tariff of Abominations
1828 The Nullification Crisis
My Conclusion – Where you decide if a state should be allowed to use nullification and two reasons why or why not

4. The Nullification Notes: A States’ Rights Debate 1798- Alien 1812- and
Key Concept- FEDERALISM-American government structure is organized so powers are divided between Federal and State governments.
The Nullification
Notes:
A States’ Rights
Debate
1798-
Alien
and
Sedition
Acts
1799-
Virginia
Kentucky
Resolutions
1812-
Hartford
Convention

5. Alien and Sedition Acts
The Alien Act-Could Expel foreigners for looking suspicious.
Sedition Act- Forbade people from publishing or voicing criticism against the government.
Back to Home/ Front Page

6. Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
Kentucky and Virginia passed legislation (laws) at the state level which nullified (cancelled) the Alien and Sedition acts on the basis that they were unconstitutional.
Back to Home/ Front Page

7. Hartford Convention War of 1812
Many New Englanders from the Federalist party opposed the war. They met to discuss the idea of nullifying the war act and/or seceding from the United States to form their own country. They dropped this idea after the U.S. victory at the Battle of New Orleans.
Back to Home/ Front Page

8. Tariff of Abominations
Tariff- Tax on imported goods.
A high tariff was passed to protect northern manufacturers- Why? So they sell more.
The South calls it an “abomination” because they buy foreign goods. The tax made the goods more expensive.
Back to Home/ Front Page

9. The Nullification Crisis
South Carolina nullifies the Federal law.
S.C. says that the Kentucky and Virginia resolutions set precedent that states could nullify federal laws.
Back to Home/ Front Page

10. Jackson Responds Jackson was enraged!
He declared that S. Carolina would enforce the law.
He passed the Force Bill- Approved by congress saying that he could use the army to enforce laws if necessary.
Back to Home/ Front Page

11. Can a State Nullify a Law?
It is a question of the supremacy of the national government versus state sovereignty (states’ rights).
Back to Home/ Front Page

12. No
Senator Daniel Webster argued that only the Supreme Court could decide whether a law was constitutional. He said the federal government was sovereign, that the Union was perpetual, and that any attempt to dismember it was nothing less than treason.
Back to Home/ Front Page

13. Yes
States formed the Union by an agreement (or "compact") among the States, and that as creators of the federal government, the States have the final authority to determine the limits of the power of that government. States, not the federal courts are the ultimate interpreters of the extent of the federal government's power. Thus states may reject, or nullify, federal laws that the States believe are beyond the federal government's constitutional powers.

14. What about Secession?
If the states have the right to nullify federal laws that they believe are beyond the federal government's constitutional powers, do they have the right to secede from the Union?
Back