Answer:
In the 1830s, supporters of states’ rights believed that states had the right to nullify federal laws. Therefore, the correct answer is (D) States had the right to nullify federal laws.
This belief was based on the idea that the federal government was a creation of the states and that the states had the ultimate authority to decide whether or not to obey federal laws. This concept was particularly relevant in the debate over tariffs during this period, as many southern states believed that they were being unfairly taxed by the federal government and should have the right to nullify these taxes if they saw fit.
This belief in states’ rights was a major issue leading up to the Civil War, as many southern states argued that they had the right to secede from the Union based on their interpretation of states’ rights and nullification. Ultimately, the issue was resolved through the outcome of the war and the subsequent Reconstruction amendments to the Constitution, which clarified the relationship between the federal government and the states.