Maysville Road veto

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 102 to 86 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. Following this veto were six additional vetoes of public works projects, including roads and canals. This dealt a blow to the American System of Henry Clay.