Battle of the Press: The Nullification Crisis in South Carolina, 1828-1833

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Pack, A. (2015). Battle of the Press: The Nullification Crisis in South Carolina, 1828-1833. Unc Charlotte Electronic Theses And Dissertations.
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Abstract

This study focuses on the role of the press during the Nullification Crisis in SouthCarolina. It examines how the Charleston Mercury and the Charleston Courier usedideas centered around economics, states’ rights and honor to convince South Caroliniansto support their side in the conflict over tariffs. South Carolina was divided betweenNullifiers who favored declaring the Tariff of 1828 null and void within the borders ofSouth Carolina and Unionists who opposed nullification and feared the potential fordisunion that the radical doctrine possessed. The Unionists represented an older politicaltradition that sought the greater good of the nation as the best way to ensure a prosperousfuture, while the Nullifiers advanced strong states’ rights doctrines that advocated forSouth Carolinian interests above all. The strict states’ rights beliefs held by the Nullifierscame to be the dominant political view in South Carolina for the rest of the antebellumperiod. The editors of the Mercury and Courier played a major role in shaping theinternal debate in South Carolina over the tariff and the Mercury’s victory firmlyestablished states’ rights as the primary political doctrine of antebellum SouthCarolinians.

Details
Author

Pack, Andrew

Title

Battle of the Press: The Nullification Crisis in South Carolina, 1828-1833

Physical Description

1 online resource (116 pages) : PDF

Date

2015

Degree Granting Institution

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Abstract

This study focuses on the role of the press during the Nullification Crisis in SouthCarolina. It examines how the Charleston Mercury and the Charleston Courier usedideas centered around economics, states’ rights and honor to convince South Caroliniansto support their side in the conflict over tariffs. South Carolina was divided betweenNullifiers who favored declaring the Tariff of 1828 null and void within the borders ofSouth Carolina and Unionists who opposed nullification and feared the potential fordisunion that the radical doctrine possessed. The Unionists represented an older politicaltradition that sought the greater good of the nation as the best way to ensure a prosperousfuture, while the Nullifiers advanced strong states’ rights doctrines that advocated forSouth Carolinian interests above all. The strict states’ rights beliefs held by the Nullifierscame to be the dominant political view in South Carolina for the rest of the antebellumperiod. The editors of the Mercury and Courier played a major role in shaping theinternal debate in South Carolina over the tariff and the Mercury’s victory firmlyestablished states’ rights as the primary political doctrine of antebellum SouthCarolinians.

Genre

masters theses

Subjects--Topics

History

Degree

M.A.

Keywords

Honor
Newspapers
Nullification
South Carolina
States' Rights

Subject Area

History

Advisor(s)

Dupre, Daniel

Committee Members

Smith, John
Cameron, Christopher

Degree Note

Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2015.

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Rights Holder Information

Copyright is held by the author unless otherwise indicated.

Identifier

Pack_uncc_0694N_10995

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:1347