Who was the main architect of the theory of nullification?

John C. Calhoun is recognized as the principal architect of the theory of nullification, a concept that emerged in the early 19th century. This theory posited that states had the right to nullify, or invalidate, any federal law that they deemed unconstitutional. Calhoun, a prominent South Carolina politician, articulated his views on nullification in response to growing tensions between southern states and the federal government, particularly regarding tariffs that were perceived to unfairly benefit the industrial North at the expense of the agrarian South.

Calhoun's advocacy for nullification was prominently represented in his South Carolina Exposition and Protest, written in 1828. He articulated fears that the federal government could overreach its powers, threatening states' rights. The debate culminated in the Nullification Crisis of 1832-1833, where South Carolina attempted to nullify federal tariff laws, prompting significant national tension.

The other figures mentioned have important connections to U.S. history but did not primarily develop or advocate for the concept of nullification. Thomas Jefferson indeed contributed to the idea of states’ rights, particularly in the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions, but he did not develop the theory of nullification in the same way as Calhoun. Andrew