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John Calhoun

John C. Calhoun
Oil on canvas painting of John C. Calhoun, perhaps in his fifties, white shirt, black robe, full head of graying hair
7th Vice President of the United States
In office
March 4, 1825 – December 28, 1832
President John Quincy Adams
Andrew Jackson
Preceded by Daniel D. Tompkins
Succeeded by Martin Van Buren
United States Senator
from South Carolina
In office
November 26, 1845 – March 31, 1850
Preceded by Daniel Elliott Huger
Succeeded by Franklin H. Elmore
In office
December 29, 1832 – March 4, 1843
Preceded by Robert Y. Hayne
Succeeded by Daniel Elliott Huger
16th United States Secretary of State
In office
April 1, 1844 – March 10, 1845
President John Tyler
James K. Polk
Preceded by Abel P. Upshur
Succeeded by James Buchanan
10th United States Secretary of War
In office
December 8, 1817 – March 4, 1825
President James Monroe
Preceded by William H. Crawford
Succeeded by James Barbour
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from South Carolina's 6th district
In office
March 4, 1811 – November 3, 1817
Preceded by Joseph Calhoun
Succeeded by Eldred Simkins
Personal details
Born John Caldwell Calhoun
(1782-03-18)March 18, 1782
Abbeville, South Carolina, U.S.
Died March 31, 1850(1850-03-31) (aged 68)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting place St. Philip's Church
Political party Democratic-Republican (Before 1828)
Nullifier (1828–1839)
Democratic (1839–1850)
Spouse(s) Floride Bonneau
Children 10
Parents Patrick Calhoun
Martha Caldwell
Education Yale University
Litchfield Law School
Religion Unitarianism
Signature Appletons' Calhoun John Caldwell signature.jpg

John Caldwell Calhoun (/kælˈhn/; March 18, 1782 – March 31, 1850) was an American statesman and political theorist from South Carolina, and the seventh Vice President of the United States from 1825 to 1832. He is best remembered for being a strong defender of slavery and for advancing the concept of minority rights in politics, which he did in the context of defending Southern values from perceived Northern threats. He began his political career as a nationalist, modernizer, and proponent of a strong national government and protective tariffs. By the late 1820s, his views reversed and he became a leading proponent of states' rights, limited government, nullification, and opposition to high tariffs—he saw Northern acceptance of these policies as the only way to keep the South in the Union. His beliefs and warnings heavily influenced the South's secession from the Union in 1860–61.

Calhoun began his political career in the House of Representatives. As a prominent leader of the war hawk faction, Calhoun strongly supported the War of 1812 to defend American honor against British infractions of American independence and neutrality during the Napoleonic Wars. He then served as Secretary of War under President James Monroe, and in this position reorganized and modernized the War Department. Calhoun was a candidate for the presidency in the 1824 election. After failing to gain support, he let his name be put forth as a candidate for vice president. The Electoral College elected Calhoun for vice president by an overwhelming majority. He served under John Quincy Adams and continued under Andrew Jackson, who defeated Adams in the election of 1828.


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