Early Life

John Caldwell Calhoun was born on March 18, 1782, in Abbeville, South Carolina. He grew up in a farming family of Scotch-Irish descent. Calhoun attended local schools and later studied at Yale College, graduating in 1804. Afterward, he studied law and began practicing as a lawyer in South Carolina.

Political Career

Calhoun entered politics in 1808 and quickly became influential. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives and gained attention for his strong support of the War of 1812. Later, he became Secretary of War under President James Monroe. In 1824, Calhoun was elected Vice President of the United States, serving under both John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson.

Beliefs and Nullification Crisis

Calhoun is best known for his defense of states’ rights and slavery. He believed that each state had the power to nullify, or reject, federal laws it found unconstitutional. This idea became central during the Nullification Crisis of the early 1830s when South Carolina opposed federal tariffs. Calhoun resigned as Vice President in 1832 to fight for his state’s position.

John C. Calhoun Confederate Postage Stamp

Later Life and Legacy

Calhoun continued to serve in the U.S. Senate and as Secretary of State under President John Tyler. He strongly defended slavery as a “positive good,” which made him a leading voice for the South before the Civil War. He died on March 31, 1850, in Washington, D.C., just over a decade before the war began. Calhoun remains a controversial figure in American history for his role in promoting states’ rights and slavery.

Discussion Questions

1. Why did John C. Calhoun believe in states’ rights and nullification?
2. How did Calhoun’s ideas contribute to tensions between the North and South?
3. What role did Calhoun play in the Nullification Crisis?
4. Why is Calhoun considered a controversial figure in American history?

Glossary

• Nullification: The idea that a state can cancel a federal law it believes is unconstitutional.
• Tariff: A tax on imported goods.
• Secession: The act of leaving a political union, such as the Southern states leaving the Union before the Civil War.
• States’ Rights: The belief that individual states have powers independent of the federal government.

Five Interesting Facts

• Calhoun served as Vice President under two different presidents.
• He was a strong supporter of the War of 1812.
• Calhoun believed slavery was a “positive good,” not just necessary.
• He helped shape the U.S. policy during the annexation of Texas.
• Calhoun died before the Civil War but influenced Southern leaders who supported secession.

Timeline

• 1782: Born in Abbeville, South Carolina.
• 1804: Graduated from Yale College.
• 1811: Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
• 1825–1832: Served as Vice President under John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson.
• 1832: Resigned as Vice President during the Nullification Crisis.
• 1844: Became U.S. Secretary of State.
• 1850: Died in Washington, D.C.