READING: Academic Social Studies America’s Story Three Giants of Congress Daniel Webster (1782-1852) was from New Hampshire and first went to Congress in 1812. He left Congress in 1817 and moved to Boston, where he became known as the country’ leading lawyer. He returned to Congress in 1823 and was elected to the Senate in 1827, where he served until he died. John C. Calhoun (1782-1850) was from South Carolina and first went to Congress in 1810. He remained there until 1850. He served as vice president for both John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson, and later returned to the Senate, where he served until his death. Henry Clay (1777-1852) was from Kentucky and first went to Congress in 1806, where he served as Speaker of the House and as a senator. He ran for president several times but was never elected. He served in Congress until he died. The chart below shows the main issues of the times and how each of the three Congressmen felt about them. Issue | Webster Calhoun Clay War of 1812 opposed supported | supported ‘American System (road building, federal supported | supported | supported payments to states for land) strong national bank supported | supported | supported taxes on goods from foreign countries supported ‘opposed supported Union vs. states’ rights Union States Compromise Compromise of 1850 (slave vs. free states) supported | opposed supported Liao (©The Continental Press Inc. DUPLICATING THIS MATERIAL IS ILLEGAL.READING: Academic Social Studies America’s Story 1. Read the passage and look at the chart on page 74 again. Which statement below is true? @® They served in Congress at about the same time. All three men served as vice president. © The men were all from the same state. They all ran for president several times. 2. Read the passage and look at the chart on page 74 again. What is one area in which all three men agreed? @®) They all supported the Union over states’ rights. They all opposed the War of 1812. © Allthree men supported the American System. They all opposed taxes on goods from foreign countries (aE UNIT 2 Readi ICATING THIS MATERIAL IS ILLEGAL. ‘© The Continental Pres, nc.READING: Academic Social Studies a America’s Story 3. What can you tell from reading the passage and looking at the chart? ® Calhoun disliked Clay and Webster. All of the men were dedicated to their country. © Webster worked harder than Clay and Calhoun. ) Clay and Calhoun were always on opposite sides. 4, Read the passage on page 74 again. Why do you think these men were called “giants of Congress"? @® They were the tallest men in Congress. They had many loud arguments with each other. © They were brave soldiers during the American Revolution. © They helped shape the country’s laws and ideas. a ia LESSON | ‘© The Continental Press Inc. DUPLICATING THIS MATERIAL IS ILLEGAL.