Question

though he died before the civil war even began, john c. calhoun was partly responsible for it. the senator from south carolina was the most powerful southern voice in the government.
calhoun was the leading proponent of slavery in the senate. previously, southerners had argued that slavery was a
ecessary evil.\ in a famous speech to the senate, calhoun argued that slavery was a \positive good.\
every pro - slavery argument is based in ignorance and racism, but none more than the argument that africans were savages and that by living in america they were at least living in a civilized society.
calhoun and others angrily pointed out that while northerners were yelling about the treatment of slaves, they were treating their own workers terribly. for example, young girls in textile mills in new england worked twelve - hour days under awful conditions.
which best describes john c. calhouns attitude towards slavery?
choose one option
a slavery was a necessary evil.
b slavery was a good for everyone involved.
c slavery was worse than work in textile mills.
d slavery should be abolished.

Explanation:

To determine John C. Calhoun's attitude toward slavery, we analyze the text:

• Option A: The text says "Previously, Southerners had argued that slavery was a 'necessary evil'", but Calhoun's view was different. He argued slavery was a "positive good", so A is incorrect.
• Option B: The text states "Calhoun argued that slavery was a 'positive good'". The option "Slavery was a good for everyone involved" aligns with his view (as he saw it as a positive good, implying it was good for those involved from his perspective).
• Option C: The text mentions Calhoun pointed out Northern workers' bad conditions to counter Northern criticism of slavery, but it doesn't say he thought slavery was worse than textile mill work. So C is incorrect.
• Option D: Calhoun was a proponent of slavery, so he did not think it should be abolished. D is incorrect.

Answer:

B. Slavery was a good for everyone involved.