The American System
What was the American System?
The American System was a new plan to strengthen and unify the nation. The system was a new form of federalism that had three main points:
- A national bank to provide currency and keep the government from having to borrow money from several different banks
- A tariff to protect the industries
- A national transportation system that could unite the northern industries with the western and southern industries
The funds for these plans would come from higher tariffs and the selling of land.
Creator of the American System
Henry Clay was the creator of the American System along with the help from the members of the whig party which included him, John C. Calhoun and John Quincy Adams. The American System was the main focus of the Whig party. Between 1816 and 1828 congress began enacting programs to support each of the main points of the American System. Henry Clay later had many other ideas to pay for national debts and lower tariffs for the people but most of them were turned down or not supported.
A little about Henry Clay
Clay was born into wealth and was into history at a young age. He promoted several major compromises that balanced the rights of free states and slave states. Clay ran for presidency twice but was unsuccessful. Clay was a member of the Senate but when he lost an election he would move back home and come back to Washington to return to his position shortly after. When president Andrew Jackson was president he opposed all of Clay's ideas no matter what they were.
Works Cited
"American System." American System. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2013.
"U.S. Senate: Art & History Home Classic Senate Speeches." U.S. Senate: Art & History Home Classic Senate Speeches. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2013.
"Henry Clay Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2013.