The Great Triumvirate Clay, Calhoun, & Webster

Henry Clay Born in Hanover County, VA moved to Lexington, KY 1806 – U.S. Senate 1810 – U.S. Senate 1811 – Speaker of the House negotiated Treaty of Ghent 1815 – 1825 Speaker of the House American System Missouri Compromise Sec. of State for J.Q. Adams 1831 – U.S. Senate created the compromise tariff to end the Nullification Crisis 1849 – U.S. Senate Compromise of , 1832, 1844 – Ran for President “I’d rather be right than president” - Henry Clay “The Great Compromiser”

John C. Calhoun Born in in Abbeville, S.C – House of Representatives – Member of War Hawks who called for war with Britain in Sec. of War for James Monroe – sought censure of Andrew Jackson for overstepping his authority by invading Spanish Florida in – Vice-President for J.Q. Adams 1829 – Vice-President for Jackson – issued Doctrine of Nullification, resigns in Dec – U.S. Senate 1844 – Secretary of State for Tyler – Completed the annexation of Texas 1845 – U.S. Senate – Compromise of 1850 argued to support slavery and the rights of slave holders; died before the final votes on the parts of the Compromise make it law. “In looking back, I see nothing to regret and little to correct.” - John C. Calhoun “Champion of States’ Rights”

Daniel Webster Born in Salisbury, New Hampshire 1813 – House of Representatives Lawyer in Boston, MA – 1819 – McCulloch vs. Maryland defended the Bank of the U.S. and won – 1824 – Gibbons vs. Ogden defended Gibbons and supported the idea that transportation is part of commerce 1823 – House of Representatives 1827 – 1841 – U.S. Senate – spoke against nullification in the Webster- Hayne Debates 1836 – Ran for President 1841 – 1843 – Sec. of State for Tyler – Webster-Ashburton Treaty, 1842, settled the boundary between Maine and Canada 1845 – U.S. Senate – supported the Compromise of 1850 against the wishes of his supporters 1850 – 1852 – Sec. of State for Fillmore “Defender of the Union” “Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable” – Daniel Webster

llll Between 1812 and 1850 had more impact on American government than any three politicians in American history. None were ever elected president They left a lasting legacy on American politics – More than the presidents of their day could match. The Great Triumvirate Henry ClayJohn C Calhoun Daniel Webster

 Country pulled into 3 sections Northeast, South, & West  Regions argued over 3 major economic issues Public land sale Internal improvements Tariffs

 Congress passed a high tariff in 1828 (under JQA) Proposed by Martin van Buren Proposed by Martin van Buren  South hated it They were forced to sell low prices to be competitive They were forced to sell low prices to be competitive Pay high prices for manufactured goods Pay high prices for manufactured goods  Southern Congressman proposed the doctrine of nullification Alien and Sedition acts as the model Alien and Sedition acts as the model

Nullification debate grew in the U.S. Senate: Webster-Hayne Debate Vice-President John C. Calhoun claimed “states should have final authority on whether to follow acts of Congress” He felt states had the right to judge if a law is constitutional Congressmen from South Carolina defended & promoted secession

South hoped for Jackson’s support since he was a supporter of states’ rights Jackson opposed nullification but wanted to save the Union South Carolina passed the Nullification Act and continued to threaten secession “Yes I have; please give my compliments to my friends in your State and say to them, that if a single drop of blood shall be shed there in opposition to the laws of the United States, I will hang the first man I can lay my hand on engaged in such treasonable conduct, upon the first tree I can reach.” “Our Federal Union: It must be preserved.”

 Jackson left Calhoun off his ticket in the 1832 election Chose Martin van Buren as his Vice President Chose Martin van Buren as his Vice President  Jackson passed the Force Bill The President could use force to enforce acts of Congress The President could use force to enforce acts of Congress  Henry Clay proposed a smaller compromise tariff in the Senate Congress passed it and S.C. accepted the new tariff Congress passed it and S.C. accepted the new tariff