In a country torn between two domains, only one man can save its people from chaos, destruction, and complete annihilation. A nation known for its unity has been torn asunder by a force with a newfound superhuman ability: nullification. Now, this one man has a choice: engage the villain in earth-shattering warfare or lose his own power and control. This man is Judicious Jackson—purveyor of law and order.
Jackson actually kind of viewed himself this way—as a symbol of the law. Everything South Carolina was trying to achieve, he believed, would lead to disorder and eventually risk a collapse into civil war.
Of course, we don't know if any of this would have actually happened. But South Carolina knew that they were disrupting the order of things by challenging the federal government on the Tariff of 1828, and Jackson was not about to let that happen. He was convinced of the power of the presidency, and while he was no Louis "I am the state" XIV, you can see him in overdrive trying to keep the lid on this thing.
Questions About Law and Order
- How seriously did Jackson take the threat of secession?
- What did Jackson think would be some of the consequences of secession?
- What did Jackson believe would happen if states suddenly were able to pick and choose the laws they wanted to follow?
Chew on This
The disorder caused by the ideas of secession or nullification warranted Jackson's severe response.
Jackson was right about the chaos that would ensue if South Carolina seceded. Case in point: the Civil War.