Before this tariff was passed, Calhoun and worked hard in the federal government to increase its military power, and was instrumental in bringing the United States into the War of 1812 (ThinkQuest). When he began to see the disparity between the states, however, his attitude began to shift towards advocating state power. The Tariff of Abominations was a major indicator of this increasing disparity (Trumbore). It imposed tariffs on imported goods, especially from Britain, which led to higher prices for goods in the largely agricultural and therefore non-industrial South (Trumbore). In addition, British importers were left with a huge loss in profit, making them less able to buy the cotton and other agricultural products with which the South provided them costing Southerners even more money (Foreign Affairs).

As the Tariff of Abominations and other issues of disparity in state power grew in prominence, the idea of the compact theory grew more and more important. Not everyone agreed with this interpretation of the nation's formation; some believed that the Constitution provided for a strong central government to reign over the states (Cole et al., 87). Increasingly, though, Calhoun and others saw the government as a compact between the states, able to be changed or terminated whenever the states wish (Cole, 98).

The compact theory of the United States government, strengthened by such factors as the Tariff of Abominations, eventually allowed Calhoun's...

Lincoln's impending election was seen as proof that the Republican power in the North was increasing even more at the cost of Southern Democratic issues, and Calhoun eventually pushed the country into war (Weider). Calhoun was a slave owner, and this might have played into his politics, but it was by no means the only reason he pushed for the Civil War (Weider).
The Civil War had a complex beginning, and was not merely a single-issue event as many theories seem to propose. It is hard to tell how integral the figure and speeches of John C. Calhoun was. But his rhetoric -- especially in response to the Tariff of Abominations and the compact theory of government -- were certainly instrumental in dividing the country into its warring factions. This clearly shows how just one man can change the course of history, for better or for worse.

Works Cited

Cole, Bruce; Drake, Frederick, and Lynn Nelson. State's Rights and American Federalism. Westport: Greenwood Press, 1999

John C. Calhoun: He Started the Civil War." Weider History Network. Retreived 8 February 2009. http://www.historynet.com/john-c-calhoun-he-started-the-civil-war.htm

John C. Calhoun: Southern Leader." Library ThinkQuest. Retrieved 8 February 2009. http://library.thinkquest.org/3055/graphics/people/calhoun.html

Tariff of 1828." Foreign Affairs, the J.Q. Adams Administration. Retrieved 8 February 2009. http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h268.html

Trumbore, Brian. "The Tariff of Abominations." Freedom Investments. Retrieved 8 February 2009. http://www.buyandhold.com/bh/en/education/history/2003/tariff_of_abominations.htm