What specific laws did John C. Calhoun, Henry Clay, and Daniel Webster help pass that held the country together in the first half on the 19th century (1800s)?

John C. Calhoun, Henry Clay, and Daniel Webster, prominent American statesmen of the first half of the 19th century, played key roles in shaping legislative compromises aimed at preserving the Union amid sectional tensions. Here are some specific laws and compromises associated with each of these figures:

1. Henry Clay:

• Missouri Compromise (1820): Henry Clay played a central role in brokering the Missouri Compromise, which addressed the issue of the expansion of slavery into new territories. The compromise admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, maintaining a balance between slave and free states while also establishing a line (36°30') beyond which slavery would be prohibited in the Louisiana Territory.
• Compromise Tariff of 1833: Clay was involved in crafting a compromise tariff to address the Nullification Crisis in South Carolina. The compromise gradually reduced tariffs over a period of ten years to ease tensions between the federal government and states advocating nullification.

2. John C. Calhoun:

• Calhoun's Exposition and Protest (1828): While not a law, Calhoun's Exposition and Protest was a significant document in which he articulated the doctrine of nullification. He argued that states had the right to nullify federal laws they deemed unconstitutional.
• Compromise Tariff of 1833: Although this was a compromise associated with Henry Clay, Calhoun played a role in advocating for the interests of Southern states during the Nullification Crisis.

3. Daniel Webster:

• Webster-Hayne Debate (1830): While not resulting in legislation, the Webster-Hayne Debate in the U.S. Senate highlighted the tensions between sectional interests. Daniel Webster defended the Union and argued against the concept of nullification.
• Compromise of 1850: While not directly involved in drafting the Compromise of 1850, Daniel Webster gave a notable speech in support of the compromise, urging sectional harmony. The compromise included measures such as the admission of California as a free state, the Fugitive Slave Act, and the organization of the territories of New Mexico and Utah without specific provisions regarding slavery.