Which event highlighted the tensions between federal and state authority in the early 1830s?

The correct answer, the Nullification Crisis, is significant as it exemplifies the growing tensions between federal and state authority during the early 1830s. This event stemmed from South Carolina's opposition to federal tariffs, which they believed disproportionately harmed their economy. In response to these tariffs, state leaders in South Carolina asserted their right to nullify federal laws, claiming that states had the authority to reject federal statutes they deemed unconstitutional. This confrontation raised fundamental questions about the balance of power between state and federal governments and tested the limits of federal authority, leading to a showdown that required President Andrew Jackson to take a firm stance against secession.

The other events listed do not illustrate this specific conflict over authority. The War of 1812 centered more on foreign relations and national identity than on state versus federal authority. The Louisiana Purchase, while significant in expanding U.S. territory, primarily concerned issues of presidential power and land acquisition rather than state-federal relations. The Oregon Trail migration reflects the westward expansion and the movement of settlers, which does not directly pertain to the tensions of authority that characterized the Nullification Crisis.