John C. Calhoun and His Impact on the Civil War Despite dying before the beginning of the Civil War, John C. Calhoun created many tensions between the North and the South that propelled this nation into its greatest internal conflict of all time. Rise in Politics After graduating from law school, Calhoun got his first chance at a political position. He was elected to the Senate by his native state of South Carolina. Very early in his political career was Calhoun face with a major conflict of British ships interfering with American ships and neutral rights. Therefore, Calhoun was the lead advocate for declaring war against the British. This was the beginning of a very outspoken political career for Mr. Calhoun. While Secretary of War, Jackson made his great Florida campaign which helped him gain political favor. Despite Calhoun’s disapproval of Jackson, He ran for Vice-President on Jackson’s ticket. While vice-president, Calhoun was faced with a very difficult dilemma; either stay with Jackson and keep the northern support for his future presidential campaigns or join his home state of South Carolina in trying to abolish the “tariff of abominations.” Deciding to side with his South Carolina supporters, he effectively ruined any chances he had of becoming President. Therefore, Calhoun resigned from the vice presidency and accepted an invitation to represent the Nullifiers in Congress. Main Cause of War The majority of his disagreement with certain ideas came about during this time. In nearly every issue that was put on the table, Calhoun stated his opinion on the subject. He either approved of it and told you or disapproved of it and told you. He never sat quietly in the background hoping that someone else would make the decision. Without Calhoun in Congress at this time, many issues may have been swept under the table and conflict would have never arisen. The tariff of 1828 was an especially large issue in Calhoun’s mind because it crippled the South Carolina economy. His disapproval of this eventually led to the secessionist movement. This movement started in South Carolina and swept across most of the south. This idea of secession led to The Civil War. In conclusion, John C. Calhoun was a man of strong values and an even stronger personality. The popularity of Calhoun in the state of South Carolina was absolutely astonishing. His theories and actions in Congress got the United States started on a path towards secession and ultimately civil war. Without Calhoun in Congress, the American Civil War may have never taken place because of the compromise that would have happened without Calhoun’s anti-compromise attitude. Regardless of whether or not an individual liked Calhoun, he could not deny the scope and popularity of his life from the time he was at Yale all the way up to his death in Jackson’s ticket in the election of Note Calhoun listed second as Vice-President. Calhoun’s tomb in Charleston, SC Notes Current, Richard N. John C. Calhoun. New York: Twayne Publishers, Inc., Jackson Ticket Leaflet by 6 cm. American History. From: Printed Ephemera Collection; Portfolio 186, Folder 13a. (accessed March 25, 2012) Theodore Augustus Mills, John C. Calhoun Marble by 28.5 by The United States Senate. (accessed March 25, 2012) Tomb of John C. Calhoun, Charleston, S.C. Between 1900 and glass, 8 by 10 in. Detroit Publishing Co. Gift; State Historical Society of Colorado; (accessed March 25, 2012) Wiltse, Charles M. John C. Calhoun: Nationalist. New York: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, By: Zack Greenwell