LAD #13: John Calhoun's Speech

George Washington's Farewell Address relates to John Calhoun's speech because both tell ways to avoid conflict and war in some way.


John Calhoun's Speech Summary: In 1850, John Calhoun addressed the Senate about slavery as the issue was dividing the nation. He believed that sectionalism was increasing, and that the issue of slavery will continue to bring disunity. He wanted to unite to North and South as well as the political parties. He wanted to strengthen the Union and prevent its collapse. The power between the two was imbalanced as the industrial North, was more powerful than the agricultural South. The North also had a greater population and more states, so therefore more representation in the Federal Government. Problems arose when the North showed disapproval of slavery to the south. Calhoun believed that the only way to preserve the Union was for the North to give the South rights in the new territory, return all the runaway slaves to the South, and stop the disapproval of slavery. This would make the North and South once again equal, and although the North didn't agree to theses terms, they would have decreased the threat of succession.