Final answer:
John C. Calhoun blamed the North's economic policies, lack of enforcement of fugitive slave laws, and political power for the South's disadvantage, calling for concessions and a dual presidency to restore balance. Industrial advancements and the deepening sectional divide further exacerbated tensions. Despite these issues, the South had defensive advantages that made a northern victory in the Civil War not a foregone conclusion.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to John C. Calhoun, a leading political theorist and advocate for the southern position, the causes of the North's dominance over the South could be traced back to a combination of economic practices, political actions, and social dynamics. Calhoun contended that the North's refusal to allow the South equal rights in the newly acquired territories, as well as its failure to enforce laws regarding fugitive slaves, contributed significantly to the South's disadvantage. He believed that for the Union to be preserved, the North needed to concede to the South its ability to protect itself and even suggested a dual presidency to reflect the distinct interests of both regions.
The Northern states had developed greater industrial capabilities and infrastructure due to the Industrial Revolution, which provided them with an advantage both economically and during the Civil War. Moreover, Calhoun emphasized the need for a federal law to ensure the return of escaped enslaved people and posited the notion of a concurrent majority, which would allow a regional minority to veto national legislation it found hostile.
The sectional divide deepened as southern states saw northern economic measures, such as high tariffs and land grants, as an encroachment on southern interests and indicative of a federally-backed antislavery agenda. In Calhoun's perspective, the North's aggression and manipulation of power endangered the South's way of life and potentially, the Union itself. However, the South also possessed defensive advantages in the impending Civil War, including the need to simply defend rather than conquer, skilled military leaders, and experience with firearms and horse-riding among its recruits.