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The Idea of Henry Clay’s “American System”
The charismatic and charming Henry Clay considered himself a humble but zealous proponent of the union of the states and their collective prosperity. His idea of the American system, which emerged in the spurt of nationalism trailing the War of 1812, is still a historically meaningful government-promoted initiative to balance and harmonize the country’s commerce, agriculture, and industry (Klotter, 2018). It comprised three components: a tariff, a national bank, and federal subsidies. These mutually reinforcing components promoted agriculture, commerce, and industry. Tariffs improved and protected American industry, the national bank facilitated commerce, and the federal infrastructure subsidies made agriculture profitable through such internal improvements as canals and roads construction. Clay believed the country would experience deep distress, general bankruptcy, and national ruin without this system. With it, however, the United States would preserve and augment its prosperity while simultaneously advancing its power and greatness without prejudice to any section of the confederacy (Wraight, 2022). According to Clay, a well-maintained American system of sectoral economic activity would decrease the likelihood of restored obedience to the British System. Given the strength of Clay’s presentation and the appeal of the American System, Congress created programs to implement critical components of the system between 1816 and 1828.
American Market and Economy Based on Clay’s Economic Vision of America
Based on Clay’s Economic vision for the United States, the American System would build the American market and economy by focusing on transportation, revenue collection, and financial services. Improved transportation was necessary to ensure the fast and efficient movement of goods between states and reduce losses occasioned by delays (Wraight, 2022). Improved transportation was possible through canals, roads, and bridges construction, and money for these projects would come from selling public land and levying tariffs. With better roads, farmers would have access to profitable markets, which will spark economic development and growth. The tariffs imposed by the government would represent an improved opportunity for revenue collection. It would also protect American products from imports. Lastly, the presence of a strong national currency would facilitate, improve, and streamline interstate trade while simultaneously stabilizing the Bank of the United States (Klotter, 2018). This bank would help the government save the revenues collected from the sale of public land and the imposition of tariffs. Clay’s nationalist address concerning an American System was a successful effort at influencing Senate votes and minds in its promotion of the economy. The presentation used statistical data to support logical arguments presented humorously, passionately, and compellingly.
The Role of Mechanization and Communication in the American System
Mechanization and communication played a critical role in Clay’s American System. On the one hand, mechanization increased agricultural production in the system and ensured that more farmers became more prosperous faster. Mechanization also led to overproduction both in the farming and industrial sectors (Klotter, 2018). Food production stabilized, cultivation extended, and cities and villages became more prosperous. On the other hand, communication connected the United States to other significant economies worldwide. These communication systems responsible for improving American connectivity included the telegraph, the postal system, phonograph, photographs, motion pictures, and improved newspaper presses. Improved communication systems lowered the communication time and increased the convenience of conveying information over long distances. Improved technologies, including better printing presses, ensured that newspaper companies could produce more quantiles of newspapers and reach more people within a short period (Klotter, 2018). The faster dissemination of information allowed for faster enlightenment of the American people. Photographs helped preserve the country’s history, phonographs helped business people market their products through customized audio, and telegraphs facilitated long-distance communication.
References
Klotter, J. C. (2018). Henry Clay: The man who would be president. Oxford University Press.
Wraight, T. (2022). Making America great (the first time): US economic nationalism in historical perspective. Nations and Nationalism, 28(1), 66-81.
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