States’ Rights

The Tariff of Abominations: A Storm of Tariffs That Divided a Nation

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The Tariff of Abominations: How Tariffs Divided America

In the annals of American economic history, few pieces of legislation have stirred as much controversy and sectional discord as the Tariff of 1828. Dubbed the “Tariff of Abominations” by its detractors, this seemingly dry economic policy ignited a firestorm that threatened to tear the young nation asunder, offering a potent historical parallel to contemporary … Read more

Federal Overreach or Necessary Measure? The Little-Known Precedent for Federal Control of State Militias

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The First Federal Takeover of a State Militia: An Antebellum Precedent

The whispers of secession were growing louder in the years leading up to the American Civil War. Tensions between the states and the federal government were a constant simmer, with few issues proving more combustible than the control of militias. While the Civil War itself saw a dramatic assertion of federal authority, a lesser-known incident, … Read more