What was the Southern stance toward tariffs that made imports costly?

• A. Supported tariffs to fund internal improvements
• B. Tariffs had little effect on the Southern economy
• C. Opposed tariffs that made imports costly
• D. Tariffs increased cotton exports

Answer: (C)

Tariffs that raise the price of imported goods put a squeeze on the Southern economy, which relied on buying manufactured goods from abroad and selling cotton overseas. Southerners argued that these protective tariffs mainly benefited Northern industry while making everyday goods more expensive for planters and consumers in the South. They also feared retaliatory tariffs on cotton exports would hurt their primary economic activity. Because of this, their stance was to oppose tariffs that made imports costly, preferring lower tariffs or free trade. This opposition even showed up in the political crisis over tariffs in the 1820s and 1830s, illustrating their stance against measures that raised import prices.