The American System
Michael Lewis
Purpose - Why was it necessary
The American System was necessary because it was a plan to strengthen and unify the nations
Nationalism V. Sectionalism
Nationalism - This is when you love your country as a whole no matter where your from you just think that your country is the best and superior to others
Sectionalism - This is when you love your region of your country and you dont really care about the rest of your country just where your from.
Key components of The American System
- It supported high tariff to protect American industries and generate revenue for the federal government.
- Maintain the high public land prices to generate federal revenue.
- Preserve Bank of U.S. to stabalize the currency and rein in risky state and local banks.
- Development of a system of internal improvements which would knit the nation together and be financed.
Who is Henry Clay?
Leader of the Whig party and five times an unsuccessful presidential candidate, Henry Clay was born 1777 and he died 1852 played a central role on the stage of national politics for over forty years. He was secretary of state under John Quincy Adams, Speaker of the House of Representatives longer than anyone else in the nineteenth century
As Speaker of the House in 1812, Clay was one of the ‘War Hawks,’ men who believed that war with Great Britain was necessary, he also did not like slavery he advocated gradual emancipation and the resettlement of the freed people in Africa. He defended, unsuccessfully, the right of the so-called Five Civilized Tribes of Indians to their lands.