Az Eszterházy Károly Tanárképző Főiskola Tudományos Közleményei. 1993. [Vol. 1.] Eger Journal of American Studies. (Acta Academiae Paedagogicae Agriensis : Nova series ; Tom. 21)

STUDIES - András Tamóc: The Politics of a Cast-Iron Man. John C. Calhoun and His Views on Government.

Political socialization explains Calhoun's relentless support of slavery. His specific support to the "peculiar institution" was obvious, so was a diffuse allegiance to the Union. Calhoun was first and foremost a Southerner, and then an American. He was exposed to slavery at an early age as his father owned several captive laborers. The young Calhoun often worked the field and played with slaves. Similarly to Southern boys of his age, most of his playmates were slaves. Calhoun's education provided additional clues. He became an avid reader of Greco-Roman literature and history, cultures built on slavery. Aristotle's words were his main inspiration: "From the hour of birth some are marked out for subjection, and others for command. For he who can foresee with his mind is by nature intended to be lord and master and he who can only work with his body is by nature a slave".

4

8 A great contributor to the development of Calhoun's attitude was the Anglican church. According to Boorstin such practices as refusal of baptism and non-acceptance of slave marriages "allowed religion to confirm the absoluteness of Southern slavery".

4

9 Calhoun's class status, occupation, residence and race were also instrumental. He was a representative of the Southern planter elite with a chief aim of continuation of the "peculiar institution". Calhoun's behavior accurately fitted into Campbell's concept. According to the latter threefourths of Americans vote based on the needs of the class they belong to.

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0 John's occupation as a planter-lawyer generated respect and appreciation of farming coupled with unconditional reverence of the law. He viewed plantation life as an effective counterweight against the effeminate and decaying North. Calhoun, the lawyer-politician expressed the slavery issue in a geopolitical context and cast the "peculiar institution" in light of national salvation. 4

8 Will Durant, The Story of Philosophy (New York: Washington Square Press, 1926), p. 82. 4

9 Daniel J. Boorstin, The Americans The National Experience (New York:Vintage Books, 1965), p. 203. 5

0 Fred R. Harris, America's Democracy {

Glenview: Scott-Foresman, 1986), p. 209. Ill