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Primary sourceDocument10 December 1832

Proclamation to the People of South Carolina

Edward Livingston · 10 December 1832

Jackson's 1832 proclamation rejecting South Carolina's claim that it could nullify federal law, issued during the Nullification Crisis.

Issued in Jackson's name as president, this proclamation defends federal authority during the Nullification Crisis.

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Dark brown book cover with the call number 'E 384 .3 .U645' printed in white at the top left, and a white Library of Congress barcode label with the number 00005025199 and a small red dot near the bottom right.
Proclamation to the People of South Carolina, issued by Andrew Jackson, 10 December 1832.

About this source

What it is

This proclamation was written by Edward Livingston and issued under President Andrew Jackson's name on December 10, 1832. It responded to South Carolina's declaration that federal tariff laws were "null and void" within the state.

Why it matters

The proclamation shows Jackson firmly defending the authority of the federal government and the Union against a state's attempt to reject federal law, during what became known as the Nullification Crisis. It reveals Jackson's view of presidential and national power, even though the actual words were drafted by Livingston rather than Jackson himself.

Look closer

  • Why might Jackson have had someone else write this proclamation for him?
  • What does this document suggest about the limits Jackson believed states had?
  • How might South Carolina's leaders have reacted to this proclamation?

This document is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Andrew Jackson on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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