John C. Calhoun

John Caldwell Calhoun was one of the nastier political figures in 19th century United States and could be considered the intellectual great-grandfather of American-styled white supremacy and Southern reactionary politics.Johm C. Calhoun: The Man Who Started The Civil War, Ethan S. Rafuse, Historynet 12 June 2006 He was a strong defender of slaveryHe considered it a "positive good" rather than subscribing to the mainstream apologist view of slavery being a "necessary evil". and brought the nation to the brink of civil war due to his nullification doctrine that basically argues that any state can nullify any law it doesn't agree with.Hint, it can't: see of the United States Constitution
Despite all that, he managed to be US Vice President for a time (1825-1832)In fact he was one of only two Vice presidents to serve under two different presidents, the other being a certain George Clinton. He also served in the US House of Representatives and Senate (South Carolina), as Secretary of State, and as Secretary of War. and overall one of the most important Southern leaders during the antebellum era. Famously he was Andrew Jackson's vice president while the two had a falling out during the Nullification Crisis of 1832, leading to the two bitterly hating each other and Jackson claiming on his last day in office that his two main regrets were that he "had been unable to shoot Henry Clay or to hang John C. Calhoun." 
He furthermore gets chickenhawk bonus points for virulently supporting the War of 1812 (his political group at that time was called "war-hawks") despite never having served in any military.To be fair, he was just a bit young to fight in the American Revolution, though he was old enough for the Barbary War. In fact his pro-war stance and support for military buildup initially led to him initially being a Federalist sympathizer before flipping to the anti-Federalist/Democratic Party due to the issue of (you guessed it) slavery. If you needed definitive proof that the US would be better off without the Carolinas, he is it. 
Calhoun was fiercely opposed to high protectionist tariffs.McNamara, Robert (July 19, 2019). The Tariff of Abominations of 1828. ThoughtCo. Retrieved March 15, 2021. He even threatened for his home state of South Carolina to secede over the issue, but Andrew Jackson had none of it.
Calhoun was also responsible for the establishment of the in 1824 to regulate the social, economic and political affairs of Native Americans on reservations.United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs.
==Greatest hits==
==See also==
*American Civil War — Calhoun's "extreme" (as in, even by the standards of the day) and unbending defense of Southern slavery combined with his readiness to double-cross the Federal government helped make this basically inevitable.
*Henry Clay — Calhoun's friend who helped him get into prominence with their shared support of the War of 1812, though they would later diverge on issues like the Nullification Crisis and Compromise of 1850.
*John Tyler — Calhoun served as Secretary of State under Tyler.
*Strom Thurmond
==Notes==
==References==
Category:Chickenhawks
Category:Crimes against humanity
Category:Former U.S. Cabinet Members
Category:Former United States Representatives
Category:Former United States Senators
Category:Pseudolaw
Category:Racists
Category:Slavery apologists
Category:United States politicians
Category:Vice Presidents of the United States
Category:White supremacists