Having traveled with his father to Britain and then on his own to the courts around Europe, John Q. Adams had received a colorful, first hand education in diplomacy and politics. After graduating from Harvard …show more content…
Calhoun graduated with distinction after a year of law school and work in the office of a prominent member of the Federalist party. He was elected to his states legislation in 1808 and to the House of Representatives in 1811 as a ardent Jeffersonian-Republican. Calhoun was one of the “War Hawks” who advocated war with Britain, and in 1812, when war broke out, he became the majority floor leader. After the Treaty of Ghent, he was responsible for the establishing of the National Bank. He also wrote a bill to establish a nationwide network of roads and canals, which was vetoed by James Madison. Under James Monroe, he acted as the Secretary of War and in 1824 ran campaigned for the presidency as a nationalist and advocate of states’ rights. However, due to partisan attacks by other contenders, he dropped from the race and ran for the vice-presidency