The Great ThreeThe Great Three

Clay, Calhoun, & WebsterClay, Calhoun, & Webster

Henry ClayHenry Clay• 1777 - Born in Hanover County, VA

• 1797 - moved to Lexington, KY

• 1806 – 1807 - U.S. Senate

• 1810 – 1811 - U.S. Senate

• 1811 –1814 - Speaker of the House• negotiated Treaty of Ghentnegotiated Treaty of Ghent

• 1815 – 1825 Speaker of the House• American SystemAmerican System• Missouri CompromiseMissouri Compromise

• 1825 - 1829-Sec. of State for J.Q. Adams

• 1831 – 1842 - U.S. Senate• created the compromise tariff to end created the compromise tariff to end

the Nullification Crisisthe Nullification Crisis

• 1849 – 1852 - U.S. Senate• Compromise of 1850Compromise of 1850

• 1824, 1832, 1844 – Ran for President

“I’d rather be right than president” - Henry Clay

“The Great Compromiser”

John C. CalhounJohn C. Calhoun• 1782 - Born in in Abbeville, S.C.

• 1811 – 1817 - House of Representatives– Member of War Hawks Member of War Hawks who called for war

with Britain in 1812.

• 1817-1825 Sec. of War for James Monroe– sought censure of Andrew Jackson for

overstepping his authority by invading Spanish Florida in 1818

• 1825 – 1829 - Vice-President for J.Q. Adams

• 1829 – 1832 - Vice-President for Jackson– issued Doctrine of Nullificationissued Doctrine of Nullification, resigns in

Dec 1832

• 1832 – 1843 - U.S. Senate

• 1844 – 1845 - Secretary of State for Tyler– Completed the annexation of TexasCompleted the annexation of Texas

• 1845 – 1850 - U.S. Senate– Compromise of 1850Compromise 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 WebsterDaniel Webster• 1782 - Born in Salisbury, New

Hampshire

• 1813 – 1817 - House of Representatives

• 1816 - 1823 - Lawyer in Boston, MA–Argued 171 cases before the Supreme Court–1819 – McCulloch vs. MarylandMcCulloch vs. Maryland

• defended the Bank of the U.S. and won

–1824 – Gibbons vs. OgdenGibbons vs. Ogden• defended Gibbons and supported the idea

that transportation is part of commerce

• 1823 – 1827 - House of Representatives

• 1827 – 1841 – U.S. Senate–spoke against nullification in the Webster-spoke against nullification in the Webster-Hayne DebatesHayne Debates

• 1836 – Ran for President

• 1841 – 1843 – Sec. of State for Tyler–Webster-Ashburton Treaty, 1842, settled Webster-Ashburton Treaty, 1842, settled the boundary between Maine and Canadathe boundary between Maine and Canada

• 1845 – 1850 - U.S. Senate–supported the Compromise of 1850supported 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

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• Between 1812 and 1850 had more impact on American gov’t than any three politicians in American history.

• None were ever elected president

• They left a They left a lasting legacy on lasting legacy on American politicsAmerican politics– More than the

presidents of their day could match.

The Great ThreeHenry Clay John C Calhoun

Daniel Webster