THE CHEROKEES| JACKSON| CALHOUN | ELIZA ALLEN
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(1782-1850)

John C. Calhoun, a political rival of Houston, served in the United States government as a Congressman, Senator, Secretary of War, Vice President, and Secretary of State. Originally from South Carolina, Calhoun graduated from Yale, attended law school in Connecticut and passed the South Carolina bar in 1807. After practicing in his native district for two years, Calhoun ran for the state legislature and won, launching a political career that would take him to the second-highest political office in the country.

Elected to Congress in 1811, Calhoun introduced the war report, advocating the War of 1812. Calhoun and Henry Clay, two famous "War Hawks," urged war with England to vindicate American national honor. Calhoun served as Secretary of War under President James Monroe from 1817-1825. During that time, Calhoun met Houston when Houston, serving as Indian Subagent, escorted a group of Cherokees Chiefs to the White House. The meeting between the two men was not an amicable one and a lifelong rivalry ensued.

In 1824, Calhoun sought to succeed Monroe as President, but withdrew his candidacy to run as Vice President. He served as Vice President under John Quincy Adams and began a term under Andrew Jackson, but resigned in 1832 over policy disputes, including tariff and states' rights issues.

Focused on protecting southern interests, Calhoun ran for a Senate seat in South Carolina. He served as a Senator from 1832-1843, and after serving as Secretary of State in 1844, the last year of President John Tyler's administration, he returned to the Senate and served from 1846 until his death. Calhoun was a spokesman for slavery and states' rights, the precipitating issues of the Civil War. He died in Washington in March of 1850.

Source:

Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia, accessed June, 2003
http://gi.grolier.com/presidents/ea/vp/vpcal.html

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