The American System
By Maddy Rinkus
Purpose
- To strengthen and unify the nation
NATIONALISM > SECTIONALISM
> Nationalism
- patriotic feeling, principles, or efforts
> Sectionalism
- loyalty to the interests of ones own region or section of the country , rather than to the country as a whole
* dangers: split the country into North, South, and West sections which caused political issues and tariffs on the different sections
Key Components
- Support high tariffs to protect American industries and generate more income for the government
- Maintain high public land prices to generate more money for the government
- Preserve the National Bank to set a common currency and to be higher than the state and local banks
- Develop roads, canals, and other ways to connect the nation
Henry Clay
- Leader of the Whig party (formed in opposition of the federalist party)
- Created/Imaged the idea of the American System and put it into action
- was considered the "Architect of the American System"
- War Hawk - believed war with Great Britain was necessary
- Disapproved the slave system even though he was a slave owner
- "Great Compromiser" because of the three major sectional compromises that were formed: Missouri Compromise of 1820, Tariff Compromise of 1833, and the Compromise of 1850
- After his death, the Whig party disappeared