The 'Tariff of Abominations' was a term used by Southerners to describe the Tariff of 1828, which they believed unfairly favored Northern industries at the expense of Southern economies. Vice President John C. Calhoun was a prominent opponent of this tariff, advocating for states' rights and nullification as a response to what he viewed as federal overreach. This period was marked by significant tension between the North and South, and the tariff was a key issue that highlighted these divisions.