Top 10 Facts About John C. Calhoun

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 great awakening lived John c. Calhoun, a strong nationalist well known and remembered, for his now controversial support of slavery. This important political theorist and politician served as a 3-time house representative, senator, 2-time Vice President, the secretary of war, and secretary of state. He also played a key role in the start of America’s Civil War. Though he is credited by J.F. Kennedy as one of the greatest senators in US history, he is no longer considered a hero.

Let’s look at 10 Facts about Calhoun.

Fact 1: He ran for president

John C. Calhoun and Andrew Jackson along with 3 others ran for the 1824 presidential election. However, the South 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 second time in 1826 and now served under Andrew Jackson.

Fact 2: 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 by troops during the civil war, his friends hid his coffin underneath the church stairs and then buried it in a secret grave, not marked, but was in 1871 exhumed and returned to its place. After his death, Benton, a Unionist, said he was not dead, that there was still vitality in his doctrines.

Fact 3: He supported slavery

John C. Calhoun is perhaps best remembered for his belief that slavery was not a necessary evil but a positive good. 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, about a third of the population were slaves.

Fact 4: He was the Cast Iron Man

Portrait of John C. Calhoun. Photo by Mathew Benjamin Brady – Wikimedia Commons

Calhoun, America’s former Secretary of war, had a striking personality. Harriet Martineau portrays Calhoun as a “cast-iron man who looks as if he had never been born and could never be extinguished.” He was handsome but commanded attention with his piercing eyes. To some, he was a thinking machine who spoke rapidly, though with gracious mannerism. His concerns caused friction with President Adam whose plan he objected, to send a delegation to a meeting.

Fact 5: He started the Civil War

Portrait of John C. Calhoun. Photo by Mathew Benjamin Brady – Wikimedia Commons

The war was caused by disagreements stemming from different ideologies on Slavery, a topic which Calhoun championed to be good, but the north believed was evil. He enticed the south to exit as a member of the U.S.A., claiming that the president’s orders should be nullified. With so much land ready for settling by the two parties, they couldn’t agree 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 strong 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 be termed, ‘evil’. In 2020, protestants matched to his statue in Charleston demanding its removal, under the Donald Trump administration. In an age of machines, robots and A.I. America no longer needs slaves and no one agrees that slavery is good for slaves.

Fact 7: He was also involved in agriculture

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

It may be argued that John’s strong support for slavery stemmed from his personal need for slaves on his 1100 acres farm. On his farm, 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 stake in agriculture led him to push for nullification in 1832.

Fact 8: He was a strong nationalist

John Calhoun saw slavery not just as a moral question of right or wrong, but 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 have now 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 King – Wikimedia

In 1817, President James Monroe offered the position to 4 men but they all refused the offer given the poor state of the 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 office of V.P. in 1832

Calhoun resigned from the office of the Vice president in 1832, due mainly to President Andrew Jackson’s new tariffs which disfavored the confederation. Being a producer of cotton 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 be misused in the future. As so, nullification was born by 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 third of the south living as slaves. He thought slavery was good for the slaves as it made them better. And being a nationalist, he used his influence and political roles to fight for his people in the north with secession and nullification. He is no longer seen as a hero today.