On Slavery and States' Rights:
* "The South Carolina Exposition and Protest" (1828): This document argued against the protective tariffs imposed by the federal government, which Calhoun saw as harmful to the South and an overreach of federal power. It also introduced the concept of nullification, the idea that states had the right to invalidate federal laws they deemed unconstitutional.
* "A Disquisition on Government" (1851): This unfinished work explores Calhoun's political philosophy, which emphasized the importance of states' rights and a strong federal government with limited powers. He argued for a system of checks and balances to protect individual liberty and prevent the tyranny of the majority.
* "The Slavery Question" (1850): A series of speeches delivered in the Senate, where Calhoun defended slavery as a necessary evil and argued against its abolition. He believed that slavery was essential to the Southern economy and way of life, and he saw the Union as being threatened by the growing abolitionist movement.
Other Writings:
* "The Fort Hill Address" (1831): A speech that further developed Calhoun's theory of nullification and argued for a strong Southern identity.
* "The Speech on the Annexation of Texas" (1844): A speech advocating for the annexation of Texas, which Calhoun saw as an opportunity to expand slavery and strengthen the South.
* "A Letter to the People of South Carolina" (1832): This letter urged South Carolinians to resist the federal government's tariff policy through nullification.
Calhoun's writings were influential in shaping Southern political thought and contributed to the growing sectional tensions that led to the Civil War. His ideas on states' rights, nullification, and the defense of slavery continue to be debated and studied today.