A portrait of John C. Calhoun. Photo by Charles Bird King – Wikimedia

Top 10 Facts About John C. Calhoun

During the era of the second keen awakening lived John c. Calhoun, a strong nationalist well known and remembered, for his now controversial back up of slavery. This important political theorist and politician served as a 3-time house representative, senator, 2-fourth dimension Vice President, the secretary of state of war, and secretary of state. He as well played a key role in the starting time of America'south Ceremonious State of war. Though he is credited by J.F. Kennedy every bit one of the greatest senators in US history, he is no longer considered a hero.

Let'due south await at 10 Facts well-nigh Calhoun.

Fact 1: He ran for president

John C. Calhoun and Andrew Jackson along with three others ran for the 1824 presidential election. However, the Southward Carolina legislature did not endorse him and his Pennsylvania supporters favored Andrew Jackson over him. Consequently, he abandoned the presidential bid and ran instead for vice president, and got 182 out of 261 votes, serving under President Adams, with whom they had conflicting views. He again won a 2nd time in 1826 and now served under Andrew Jackson.

Fact ii: He died of tuberculosis in Washington D.C.

In 1850, John C. died of Tuberculosis and was buried at St. Philip's Churchyard. However, for fears of possible sacrilege past troops during the civil state of war, his friends hid his coffin underneath the church stairs and then buried it in a secret grave, non marked, but was in 1871 exhumed and returned to its identify. Afterward his death, Benton, a Unionist, said he was not dead, that there was notwithstanding vitality in his doctrines.

Fact iii: He supported slavery

John C. Calhoun is perhaps best remembered for his belief that slavery was not a necessary evil but a positive skilful. He championed that the nation needed slaves and though the Northern states had illegalized it, he owned many slaves who worked on this farm and works. He argued that slavery befitted the slaves and their owners and, in the south, where he came from, nearly a 3rd of the population were slaves.

Fact 4: He was the Bandage Iron Human

Calhoun, America's sometime Secretary of war, had a striking personality. Harriet Martineau portrays Calhoun as a "cast-iron homo who looks as if he had never been built-in and could never exist extinguished." He was handsome simply commanded attending with his piercing optics. To some, he was a thinking machine who spoke chop-chop, though with gracious mannerism. His concerns acquired friction with President Adam whose plan he objected, to transport a delegation to a meeting.

Fact 5: He started the Civil War

The war was acquired by disagreements stemming from different ideologies on Slavery, a topic which Calhoun championed to be good, merely the northward believed was evil. He enticed the due south to exit as a member of the The statesA., claiming that the president's orders should be nullified. With so much country prepare for settling by the ii parties, they couldn't concur how the new states should be run and war broke out.

Fact 6: He is no longer recognized as one of America's greatest leaders

The potent thoughts John expressed in support of slavery haven't aged well. With Abolitionists winning the fight over the centuries, his views are outdated and today may exist termed, 'evil'. In 2020, protestants matched to his statue in Charleston enervating its removal, under the Donald Trump assistants. In an historic period of machines, robots and A.I. America no longer needs slaves and no 1 agrees that slavery is expert for slaves.

Fact 7: He was also involved in agronomics

A One Hundred Dollar Confederate States of America banknote dated December 22, 1862. Issued during the American Civil War (1861–1865). Slave hoeing cotton in the center with John C. Calhoun on the left and Columbia on the right. Over 670,000 of these notes were issued from August, 1862 to January, 1863.

Paradigm of $100 bill with the epitome of John C. Calhoun Issued during the American Civil War (1861–1865). Photo by Confederate States of America – Wikimedia commons

Information technology may be argued that John's stiff support for slavery stemmed from his personal need for slaves on his 1100 acres farm. On his subcontract, he planted Cotton, which increased the demand for slaves when the Cotton gin machine was invented. He also planted corn maize and reared cattle. Forested grazing land was also left for his livestock. Maybe his pale in agriculture led him to push for nullification in 1832.

Fact 8: He was a strong nationalist

John Calhoun saw slavery non just equally a moral question of right or incorrect, only recognized that Slavery was so knitted into the society that it was their 'life's blood.' He comments that destroying slavery would be to destroy the nation. He also sees the black slaves as fortunate people, who take at present attained a condition so improved, physically, morally, and intellectually. He also rallied the southern delegates against Andrew Jackson's Tariffs which would hurt the South.

Fact 9: He was appointed Secretary of War in 1817

A portrait of John C. Calhoun. Photo by Charles Bird Rex – Wikimedia

In 1817, President James Monroe offered the position to four men only they all refused the offer given the poor land of the State of war Department. After taking office in December, he continued with his nationalist agenda and reorganized and modernized the War Department.  He focused on having an effective Navy and an adequately sized standing army. His emergency preparation included making great permanent roads which were also a relief to manufacturers.

Fact 10: He Resigned from the role of V.P. in 1832

Calhoun resigned from the function of the Vice president in 1832, due mainly to President Andrew Jackson's new tariffs which disfavored the confederation. Being a producer of cotton wool himself, the tariffs would hurt the southerners, who were selling their goods abroad. Though Jackson requested to reduce the tariffs, they wouldn't have it for they thought the tariffs might exist misused in the future. As then, nullification was born past John C. Calhoun.


Wronghead ideology and personal integrity is the legacy left behind by this great senator in American history. He recognized that slavery was the blood of their society, with a tertiary of the s living as slaves. He thought slavery was good for the slaves every bit information technology made them better. And being a nationalist, he used his influence and political roles to fight for his people in the northward with secession and nullification. He is no longer seen as a hero today.