John C. Calhoun of South Carolina embarked on his political journey in 1808 with his election to the state legislature. His career rapidly ascended to the national stage when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1811. Calhoun served nearly four terms in the House, establishing himself as a strong proponent of federally funded internal improvements. He resigned from the House to take on the role of secretary of war under President James Monroe, serving from 1817 to 1825 and further solidifying his national profile.
Calhoun’s ambitions extended to the presidency in 1824, but he eventually shifted his focus to the vice presidency. While publicly supporting Andrew Jackson for president, Calhoun garnered endorsements from both Jackson’s followers and supporters of John Quincy Adams. He secured the vice presidency easily, becoming president of the Senate. The presidential election, however, was decided by the House of Representatives, which favored John Quincy Adams over Andrew Jackson, despite Jackson winning the popular vote.
When Andrew Jackson won the presidency in 1828, John C. Calhoun was again elected as his vice president. However, growing disagreements with Jackson’s policies led to Calhoun’s resignation. Undeterred, Calhoun was elected to the Senate in December 1832, where he emerged as a leading voice for the southern states during the antebellum period. This era in Senate history was characterized by intense debates concerning slavery and territorial expansion, issues that defined Calhoun’s subsequent political career.
A staunch defender of slavery and a slaveholder himself, John C. Calhoun became the Senate’s most prominent advocate for states’ rights. His doctrine of nullification asserted that individual states possessed the right to reject federal policies they deemed unconstitutional, a concept that deeply influenced the political discourse of the time.
In 1850, amidst heated Senate debates over a compromise intended to prevent disunion, the ailing John C. Calhoun continued to passionately argue for the preservation and expansion of slavery. His unwavering stance underscored the deep divisions within the nation. Calhoun passed away on March 31, 1850, while these crucial debates were still underway.
Despite the controversial aspects of his political positions, John C. Calhoun’s significant influence on the pre-Civil War Senate was undeniable. A century later, a special Senate committee recognized his enduring impact by including him in the “Famous Five” collection of portraits, alongside Daniel Webster and Henry Clay. This selection acknowledged Calhoun’s lasting legacy as one of the pivotal figures in the history of the U.S. Senate, even decades after his death.
