Maysville Road veto
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The Maysville Road veto was a famous veto by U.S. President Andrew Jackson that is one of the most important events in the history of federalism in the United States.
The incident took place in 1830. The Maysville Road bill provided for the federal government to buy $150,000 in stock in a private company to fund a 60-mile road connecting the towns of Maysville and Lexington, an extension of the Cumberland and National Roads. The U.S. Congress passed the bill, with a 103 to 87 vote in the House of Representatives.
Jackson vetoed the bill, arguing that federal subsidies for internal improvements that were located wholly within a single U.S. state were unconstitutional. Also Jackson said that he did not oppose the road but just wanted the state to build it, not the federal government. Following this veto were seven additional vetoes of public works projects, including roads and canals. This dealt a blow to the American System of Henry Clay.
Many historians have also speculated that Jackson acted out of pure hatred for anything having to do with Henry Clay, his arch-rival. Therefore out of spite, he vetoed the bill.[citation needed]
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