John C Calhoun

I had the pleasure in class of explaining exactly who John C Calhoun was and why he was not a tolerant person. His actions are highly bigoted and devoted in part to the retention of rights at both a State and Individual level. He fought for the right of slavery and I'm disgusted by his morals. I wish that our society was more progressive in the past but I know morally that we are all one people. Therefore I don't understand the idea of enslaving someone and despise my ancestors for taking part in such actions, including encouraging any racist intention.


John C Calhoun was born in Charleston in the Abbeville district of South Carolina. Being the youngest of four brothers, his father would pass on early in his life, leaving him much more responsibility than a normal 14 year old would have. John's brothers would return to put him through school in his late teens allowing him to study at Yale. John was considered very bright and radical, but devout to his republican ideals ingrained in him by his father. John C Calhoun is my direct ancestor and learning about him has radically changed my viewpoints on him. Learning of the controversy pertaining to his statue in Charleston I decided that removal of the statue is actually warranted. He was devoted to keeping states rights however thought slavery was morally right. Since he supported slavery so devoutly that his statue should either be entirely removed or changed to illustrate the pain caused by his ideas. Now some information about John C Calhoun.


Why Calhoun was pro slavery:


Slavery is indispensable to a republican government,' he proclaimed. In the South it was inevitable, Calhoun argued, that the African race would be the exploited class. The South merely institutionalized this into a system that benefited both master and servant.


In the late 1820s, his views changed radically, and he became a leading proponent of states' rights, limited government, nullification, and opposition to high tariffs. He saw Northern acceptance of those policies as a condition of the South remaining in the Union. His beliefs and warnings heavily influenced the South's secession from the Union in 1860–1861. These policies also included the legality of slavery and Calhoun was in favor of these.


Therefore Calhoun intentions were to keep the black race oppressed and should be denounced as a decent politician. In regards to monuments erected to him, they should be taken down. He was not a hero to the south and he helped fuel one of the bloodiest conflicts in our history. I believe the education about these people is necessary and hope that his ideas and beliefs are disgusting and do not represent our current nation or my family.


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