Political Use Of Moderation By John C. Calhoun

714 Words3 Pages

Why Moderation Prevails The political use of moderation is summarized as balancing core principles with pragmatism to bridge factitious divides and foster a union necessary for achieving the ends of society. President Abraham Lincoln effectively utilized the true state of moderation in achieving national unity unlike southern political activist John C. Calhoun, who regretfully found his uncompromising stances and lack of moderation exceedingly politically ineffective. Moderation plays a crucial role in politics by ensuring national stability by combatting extreme political polarization. This moderate defense occurs through political actions that appeal to a broad party rather than exclusively catering to one faction. Abraham Lincoln utilized …show more content…

Calhoun perfectly epitomizes the pitfalls of a rigid and uncompromising approach to politics. Calhoun consistently rejected any discussion of abolition, viewing it as an existential threat to southern society. Calhoun insisted that slavery “instead of an evil, [is] good---a positive good,” (514), implying that slavery promoted general happiness. This colossal lack of moderation suggests an inability to engage in effective political dialogue and decomposing Calhoun’s reputation. Refusal to consider opposing perspectives assists in further defining political moderation, precisely how its absence can lead to political toppling. Calhoun experienced this sensation, failing to gain support during his presidential campaign, implying societies’ desire to unify through compromise. While addressing the deeply ingrained structural issue of slavery, society proved to favor activists who were interested in adapting and improving situations to avoid political extremes instead of those who persisted in adhering to their singular and extreme philosophy. Uncompromising extremes can quickly destabilize a society, suggesting that society favors unity through gradual and incremental

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