John Calhoun
(1782-1850)
WHO HE WAS:
John C. Calhoun was an American statesman and political theorist from South Carolina, serving as the seventh Vice President of the United States under two different presidents. He was also a senator, a secretary of war, and a secretary of state. Calhoun was an ardent defender of states' rights and is often associated with his pro-slavery stance and leading the Southern cause in the antebellum years preceding the Civil War.
WHAT HE SAID:
"The Union, next to our liberty, the most dear; may we all remember that it can only be preserved by respecting the rights of the states, and distributing equally the benefit and burden of the Union."
This quote encapsulates Calhoun's vehement advocacy for states' rights and his vision of federalism.
WHY HE MATTERED:
Calhoun's political philosophy and defense of slavery as a “positive good” have generated extensive debate and analysis. His legacy is one of strong influence on American federalism and significant contribution to the ideological groundwork that led to the Civil War.