Question

While at a banquet during his vice presidency, John C. Calhoun gave a toast: "To the Union. Next to our liberty, most dear." What does this quote reveal about why many South Carolinians wanted to secede from the Union? a) Some South Carolinians threatened to secede if liberty was not extended to the enslaved. b) South Carolinians in support of secession believed liberty was more important than maintaining the Union. c) The South Carolinians in support of secession wanted to leave the South and move to the North. d) John C. Calhoun encouraged many South Carolinians to support the Union, even if it meant the loss of liberty.

Answer 1

The right answer is the B) South Carolinians in support of secession believed liberty was more important than maintaining the Union. Calhoun had firmly opposed the so-called Tariff of Abominations (1828), since it was, he believed, detrimental to the Southern states and ultimately unconstitutional (since those states would have to pay more for imported goods). During this dinner, which took place in 1830, President Jackson toasted the preservation of the Union, and Calhoun responded with those famous words, which reflected his beliefs in a state's right to secede from the Union if the freedom and sovereignty of its citizens were not being respected.