Knowra Daniel Webster Daniel Webster Daniel Webster (1782–1852) was an American lawyer and statesman who represented New Hampshire and Massachusetts in Congress and served as U.S. secretary of state.
Henry Clay : Henry Clay was an American statesman who served as speaker of the House, senator, and secretary of state. Clay joined Webster and John C. Calhoun in negotiating the Compromise of 1850.
McCulloch v. Maryland : McCulloch v. Maryland was an 1819 Supreme Court case affirming implied federal powers and federal supremacy over state laws. Webster argued successfully for the Second Bank of the United States before the Court.
American constitutional law : American constitutional law concerns the interpretation and application of the United States Constitution. Webster’s arguments helped shape how courts and politicians understood federal authority.
Nullification crisis : The Nullification crisis was an 1832–1833 confrontation over South Carolina’s claim that it could reject federal tariffs. Webster opposed nullification and argued that the Union was formed by the people, not merely by states.
Salisbury, New Hampshire : Salisbury is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, in the United States. Webster was born there in 1782, when it was still called Salisbury.
John C. Calhoun : John C. Calhoun was an American statesman who defended slavery and state sovereignty and served as vice president and senator. Calhoun’s defense of the South’s position sharpened the sectional debate Webster addressed in 1850.
Dartmouth College v. Woodward : Dartmouth College v. Woodward was an 1819 Supreme Court case holding that a state could not impair a private corporation’s charter. Webster’s argument defending his alma mater helped secure the ruling and became famous for its appeal to the Court.
Oratory : Oratory is the art of persuasive public speaking. Webster used memorable phrasing and structured argument to move juries, judges, and senators.
Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 : The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 required federal assistance in capturing and returning people who had escaped slavery. Webster supported the law as part of the compromise, drawing fierce criticism from antislavery constituents.
Dartmouth College : Dartmouth College is a private university in Hanover, New Hampshire, founded in 1769. Webster graduated from Dartmouth in 1801 and later defended its charter before the Supreme Court.
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