The Great Triumvirate

2/12/2014

Clay, Calhoun, & Webster

Henry Clay “The Great Compromiser” John C. Calhoun • 1777 - Born in Hanover County, VA • 1782 - Born in in Abbeville, S.C. “Champion of States’ Rights” • 1797 - moved to Lexington, KY • 1811 – 1817 - House of Representatives – Member of War Hawks who called for war • 1806 – 1807 - U.S. Senate with Britain in 1812. • 1810 – 1811 - U.S. Senate • 1817-1825 Sec. of War for James Monroe – sought censure of Andrew Jackson for • 1811 –1814 - Speaker of the House overstepping his authority by invading Spanish Florida in 1818 • negotiated Treaty of Ghent • 1825 – 1829 - Vice-President for J.Q. Adams • 1815 – 1825 Speaker of the House • American System • 1829 – 1832 - Vice-President for Jackson • Missouri Compromise – issued Doctrine of Nullification, resigns in Dec 1832 • 1825 - 1829 Sec. of State for J.Q. Adams • 1832 – 1843 - U.S. Senate • 1831 – 1842 - U.S. Senate • 1844 – 1845 - Secretary of State for Tyler • created the compromise tariff to end – Completed the annexation of Texas the Nullification Crisis • 1845 – 1850 - U.S. Senate • 1849 – 1852 - U.S. Senate – Compromise of 1850 “In looking back, I see • Compromise of 1850 • argued to support slavery and the rights of nothing to regret and little “I’d rather be right than slave holders; died before the final votes on to correct.” • 1824, 1832, 1844 – Ran for President president” - Henry Clay the parts of the Compromise make it law. - John C. Calhoun

Daniel Webster The Great Triumvirate • 1782 - Born in Salisbury, New Hampshire llll Henry Clay John C Calhoun “Defender of the Union” • Between 1812 • 1813 – 1817 - House of Representatives and 1850 had • 1816 - 1823 - Lawyer in Boston, MA more impact on – 1819 – McCulloch vs. Maryland American • defended the Bank of the U.S. and won government than – 1824 – Gibbons vs. Ogden any three • defended Gibbons and supported the idea that transportation is part of commerce politicians in American • 1823 – 1827 - House of Representatives history . • 1827 – 1841 – U.S. Senate – spoke against nullification in the Webster- • none were ever Daniel Webster Hayne Debates elected president • 1836 – Ran for President • 1841 – 1843 – Sec. of State for Tyler • they left a lasting – Webster-Ashburton Treaty, 1842, settled legacy on the boundary between Maine and Canada American politics • 1845 – 1850 - U.S. Senate “Liberty and Union, – more than the presidents of their – supported the Compromise of 1850 now and forever, against the wishes of his supporters day could match. one and inseparable” • 1850 – 1852 – Sec. of State for Fillmore – Daniel Webster

1 2/12/2014

Country pulled into 3 sections • Northeast, South, & West

Regions argued over 3 major economic issues • Public land sale • Internal improvements • Tariffs

Congress passed high tariff Nullification debate grew in the U.S. Senate: under J.Q. Adams Webster-Hayne Debate • Proposed by Martin van Buren Vice-President John C. Calhoun claimed “states should have final authority on South hated it whether to follow acts of Congress” • They were forced to sell cotton @ low prices to be competitive • Pay high prices for manufactured goods

Southern Congressman He felt states had the right to judge proposed the doctrine of if a law is constitutional nullification • Alien and Sedition acts as the Congressmen from South Carolina model defended & promoted secession

South hoped for Jackson’s Jackson left Calhoun off his support since he was a ticket in the 1832 election supporter of states’ rights • Chose Martin van Buren as his Vice President Jackson opposed nullification but wanted to save the Union Jackson got the Force Bill “Our Federal Union: It must passed be preserved.” • The President could use force to enforce acts of Congress South Carolina passed the Nullification Act and continued Henry Clay proposed a to threaten secession smaller Compromise Tariff “Yes I have; please give my compliments to my friends in your State and say to in the Senate them, that if a single drop of blood shall be shed there in opposition to the laws of • Congress passed it and S.C. the United States, I will hang the first man I can lay my hand on engaged in such accepted the new tariff treasonable conduct, upon the first tree I can reach.”