Bluffton Movement facts for kids

The Bluffton Movement was a political effort that started in Bluffton, South Carolina. It began on July 31, 1844, during a rally held under a large oak tree. This tree later became known as the "Secession Oak."

The movement aimed to make South Carolina take action on its own. This action was against a high tax law called the Tariff of 1842. This happened after John C. Calhoun failed to become president. Also, many Northern politicians had stopped supporting the South on the tariff issue.

Many people involved, called "Blufftonites," thought about leaving the Union. However, their leader, Robert Barnwell Rhett, mostly wanted to change the Union. He wanted to add more protections for Southern interests. The movement quickly ended. This was mainly because Calhoun himself spoke out against it.

Why the Movement Started

The Tariff of 1842

The main reason for the Bluffton Movement was a law passed by Congress. This law was the Tariff of 1842. A tariff is a tax on goods brought into a country. This particular tariff was a "protectionist" one. This means it was designed to protect local businesses.

This tariff made imported goods much more expensive. It also raised taxes on many other items. This caused international trade to drop sharply. This was good for factories in the Northern states. They didn't have to worry about cheaper goods from other countries.

However, the tariff greatly hurt Southern farmers. They relied on selling their crops to other countries. They also had to pay more for the goods they bought. This tax seemed very unfair to Southerners. It went against an earlier agreement, the Compromise of 1833. That agreement had lowered tariffs for the South.

Debate Over Texas

Another important reason for the movement was the debate about Texas joining the United States. Southerners strongly wanted Texas to join as a slave state. But many Northerners did not want any more slave states.

Southerners worried that slavery would be ended if Texas didn't join. They also feared Texas might join the British Empire. Both of these outcomes were unacceptable to them.

Political Disagreements

Southerners agreed that something needed to be done. But politicians in South Carolina, a very radical state, argued about the best action. The powerful South Carolina Senator John C. Calhoun hoped to become president. He wanted to annex Texas and get rid of the Tariff of 1842.

Calhoun felt strongly about the unfairness of the tariff and the idea of ending slavery. But he was against one state acting alone. He insisted that the South must work together. His strong opinions were too much for his political party. So, James K. Polk was chosen as the presidential candidate instead.

Some Southerners were happy that Polk was nominated. But many were not so hopeful. A group led by Rhett, known as the "regency," wanted South Carolina to act immediately. This group gained many followers.

The movement reached its peak in Bluffton. Several hundred young farmers and Rhett's supporters gathered there. They met under a large oak tree, which became known as the "secession oak." Rhett declared that there was no hope for the South. He said that Polk's election would not solve their problems.

Rhett announced that the only hope was to immediately ignore the tariff. Or, he said, South Carolina should leave the Union. He believed that if South Carolina acted, other states would follow. He called for a state meeting after the next Congress finished its work. To end his speech, Rhett raised his glass. He said, "May it be as useful as the convention of 1776."

How the Movement Grew

After Rhett's speech, the "Bluffton Boys" gained some support. Many South Carolinians supported Rhett. They were not content to wait and hope that Polk would solve their problems.

The Charleston Mercury, a South Carolina newspaper supported by Rhett, urged people to act. It called for action against "two enormous villainies." These were the ideas of ending slavery and the tariff. The newspaper said they were "cohesive, cooperative, concurrent, kindred and co-essential atrocities." It warned that the South would lose everything if no action was taken.

Many people in South Carolina reluctantly agreed with Rhett. Several groups against the tariff were formed. These groups wanted to try more moderate actions first. But they feared that one state acting alone might be the only way. They believed this was the only way to protect what they saw as their basic rights.

What Happened Next

Rhett said he was still a friend of Calhoun. He also said he would continue to work for the Southern Democrats. This was to help elect Polk. However, many suspected Rhett wanted to gain supporters. They thought he ultimately wanted to replace Calhoun.

His movement lost its energy when Calhoun spoke out against it. On August 19, 1844, a meeting of Charleston Democrats was held. This meeting aimed to stop the movement. They were worried and embarrassed by Rhett's radical actions. They feared the movement would hurt Polk's election chances. Democrats still thought Polk's election was very important.

Resolutions were made at the meeting. They fully supported Polk. They denied any disunity in the state. They also declared that the state was not ready for one state to act alone. This stopped the Bluffton Movement's progress. By October 1, the movement was over.

The movement itself was short-lived. But it brought up the idea of states leaving the Union. It was the beginning of an attitude that eventually led to states leaving the Union. This ultimately led to the American Civil War.