What stance did Calhoun take regarding the concept of a strong central government?

Calhoun's stance on a strong central government was rooted in his belief that such concentration of power posed a risk of tyranny. He was a proponent of states' rights and believed that the federal government should not have overarching authority over the states. This perspective was especially prominent during the decades leading up to the Civil War, a time when issues like slavery and economic power were hotly contested. Calhoun argued that the rights of states to govern themselves were paramount and that a strong central government could easily overstep its bounds and infringe upon those rights. His philosophy emphasized the importance of local governance and the dangers inherent in a powerful centralized authority that could threaten individual liberties and state autonomy.