The Nullifier Party was an American political party based in South Carolina in the 1830s. Considered an early American third party, it was started by

John C. Calhoun John Caldwell Calhoun (; March 18, 1782March 31, 1850) was an American statesman and political theorist from South Carolina who held many important positions including being the seventh vice president of the United States from 1825 to 1832. He ...

in 1828. The Nullifier Party was a states' rights, pro- slavery party that supported the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions, holding that states could nullify federal laws within their borders. It narrowly missed claiming the unofficial title of being the first ever third party to be created within the United States—that title belongs to the

Anti-Masonic Party The Anti-Masonic Party was the earliest third party in the United States. Formally a single-issue party, it strongly opposed Freemasonry, but later aspired to become a major party by expanding its platform to take positions on other issues. After ...

, which was created in

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

in February 1828. The Nullifier Party had several members in both houses of the Congress between 1831 and 1839. Calhoun outlined the principles of the party in his South Carolina Exposition and Protest (1828), a reaction to the " Tariff of Abominations" passed by Congress and signed into law by President John Quincy Adams. The Nullifier Party operated almost exclusively in South Carolina. It stood in strong opposition to President Andrew Jackson. John Floyd was supported by the Nullifier Party in the 1832 presidential election, and he received South Carolina's 11 votes in the electoral college. Floyd was not a candidate and had himself unsuccessfully tried to convince Calhoun to run for President. The party's candidate for Vice President was the Massachusetts-based political economist . Some Nullifiers joined the newly formed Whig Party after the 1832 election, attracted by its opposition to Jackson and its depiction of Jackson as a monarch. After President Andrew Jackson left office, Calhoun and most of his followers rejoined the Democratic Party.

Notable members

Robert Y. Hayne Robert Young Hayne (November 10, 1791 – September 24, 1839) was an American lawyer, planter and politician. He served in the United States Senate from 1823 to 1832, as Governor of South Carolina 1832–1834, and as Mayor of Charleston 1836– ...

* John Floyd *

Stephen D. Miller Stephen Decatur Miller (May 8, 1787March 8, 1838) was an American politician, who served as the List of Governors of South Carolina, 52nd Governor of South Carolina from 1828 to 1830. He represented South Carolina as a United States House of Repre ...

* James H. Hammond *

William C. Preston William Campbell Preston (December 27, 1794May 22, 1860) was a senator from the United States and a member of the Nullifier, and later Whig Parties. He was also the cousin of William Ballard Preston, William Preston and Angelica Singleton ...

Henry L. Pinckney Henry Laurens Pinckney (September 24, 1794February 3, 1863) was a United States House of Representatives, U.S. Representative from South Carolina, and the son of Charles Pinckney (governor), Charles Pinckney and Mary Eleanor Laurens. Born in ...

Robert B. Campbell Robert Blair Campbell (1791July 12, 1862) was a U.S. Representative from South Carolina, brother of John Campbell, also of South Carolina. Early life Born in 1791 in Marlboro County, South Carolina, Campbell was educated by a private tuto ...

William K. Clowney William Kennedy Clowney (March 21, 1797 – March 12, 1851) was a United States House of Representatives, U.S. Representative from South Carolina. Biography Early life Born in Union County, South Carolina, Clowney attended private schools and ...

Warren R. Davis Warren Ransom Davis (May 8, 1793 – January 29, 1835) was an American attorney and Representative from South Carolina's 6th congressional district from 1827-35. Davis was born in Columbia, South Carolina, pursued preparatory studies and gra ...

John Myers Felder John Myers Felder (July 7, 1782 – September 1, 1851) was a United States politician. Biography His grandfather was a native of Switzerland, came to South Carolina about 1720, and was killed during the American Revolution while defending his h ...

John K. Griffin John King Griffin (August 13, 1789 – August 1, 1841) was a U.S. Representative from South Carolina. Born near Clinton, South Carolina, Griffin pursued an academic course. He engaged as a planter. He served in the State house of representati ...

Francis Wilkinson Pickens Francis Wilkinson Pickens (1805/1807January 25, 1869) was a political Democrat and Governor of South Carolina when that state became the first to secede from the United States. A cousin of US Senator John C. Calhoun, Pickens was born into the ...

George McDuffie George McDuffie (August 10, 1790 – March 11, 1851) was the 55th Governor of South Carolina and a member of the United States Senate. Biography Born of modest means in McDuffie County, Georgia, McDuffie's extraordinary intellect was noticed ...

* Franklin H. Elmore

Electoral history

Presidential elections

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Congressional elections

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References

{{United States political parties Defunct political parties in the United States Political parties established in 1828 Political parties in South Carolina History of South Carolina John C. Calhoun Nullification (U.S. Constitution) Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions 1839 disestablishments in South Carolina 1828 establishments in South Carolina Political parties disestablished in 1839 Factions in the Democratic Party (United States) Political parties in the United States Defunct conservative parties in the United States Conservatism in the United States

Notable members

Electoral history

Presidential elections

Congressional elections

See also

References