John C. Calhoun's Economic Policies

Since the founding of the U.S. a struggle for economic power has existed. John C. Calhoun voiced the opinion of countless southern farmers, on the tariff of abominations. “the proposed tariff was in fact little more than “an immense tax on one portion of the community to put money into the pockets of another.” The Northern and Southern states evolved into two very different territories, because of their vastly different economies. The diverse needs of the different economies caused economic policies controversial, because each policy could only support one economy. The Southern States were slave societies, relying on millions of slaves to maintain their vast plantations. The Northern states however did not need slaves. Some families owned …show more content…
The south constantly pushed for an increase in slaves and arable land to expand a plantation based economy; however the North constantly pushed back against the South 's need for slaves and land. The North knew an increase in land and slaves will disproportionately distribute power in favor of the South. The North constantly tried to slow down the expansion of slavery and the Southern economy through the Slave trade compromise, the Tariff of Abominations, Missouri compromise, and popular sovereignty. Slavery, a major factor in the tension leading to the civil war was not the primary cause. The dominant factor entrenched itself in the state’s aggressive battle for regional dominance, and economic …show more content…
All strife leading to civil war between the North and South was a direct result of the conflict for economic dominance. Slavery did not cause the civil war. The controversy and conflict regarding slavery was a result of a larger battle for regional economic dominance. Even the conflict regarding land resulted from the struggle for economic power. If either the North or South gained another state, it would come with increased power in the senate by giving one group another two representative, allowing that state to pass policies only supporting its