The John Calhoun Story Summary: John Calhoun was a prominent American politician who served as the seventh Vice President of the United States from 1825 to 1832. He was a staunch supporter of states’ rights and slavery and is often regarded as one of the most influential figures in the antebellum South.
Calhoun was born in South Carolina in 1782. He graduated from Yale College and practiced law before entering politics. He served in the South Carolina legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives before being elected Vice President in 1825. As Vice President, Calhoun was a strong advocate for states’ rights and opposed the federal government’s attempts to regulate slavery. He also played a key role in the Nullification Crisis of 1832, which threatened to lead to the secession of South Carolina from the Union.
