Henry Clay: The American System

A time of immense change and political involvement, the antebellum years of the early 1800s is one of the most intriguing time periods of America’s history. Harry L. Watson’s incredible book, Liberty and Power: The Politics of Jacksonian America, details the ups and downs of politics during Jacksonian America. Watson does a great job on explaining how the eighteenth century concept of republicanism transformed nineteenth century America in the form of a ‘market revolution.’ Social, political and economic changes were the center of life during Jacksonian America. Watson’s synthesis is a must-read for anyone interested in Jacksonian politics.

America entered into the Era of Good Feelings which was a time of one party rule and peace. Democratic Republicans ruled the national government and voters had to chose a candidate from this political party. Culturally America didn’t change as slavery still in the south, industry still in the north, and western lands are still unknown. However, Henry Clay’s American System created a compromise between all regions with Northern industry, Southern Slavery, and Western Farmers. Therefore, The Missouri compromise increased sectionalism and brought economic differences to each region of the United States.

Andrew Jackson is widely recognized as a supporter of the common man. Jackson voiced for representation among ordinary citizens, and often spoke against the elite; His distinction among other candidates gained him loyal followers. However, his support for the common man differs by one 's interpretation of what a common man is. A common man is the ordinary citizens of a society; lacking class or rank.

Andrew Jackson and the Search for Vindication was written by James C. Curtis as part of the Library of American Biography Series. He offers a pseudo psychological account of the life of Andrew Jackson that gives the reader a new perspective on the full life of our founding fathers. The reader will enjoy the unique perspective he gives to Jacksons childhood; you hear a lot about what our founding fathers did when they were older so it is refreshing to hear about the problems he had when he was younger. The book does a great job on making Andrew Jackson sound more like a normal person and not some perfect founding father that no average person would ever be able to become. However, with this new perspective on the childhood, he also brings

Internal Improvements and Protective Tariffs One of the main points of Henry Clay’s American System, the necessity of subsidies for internal improvements and protective tariffs, was a source of debate between Jackson and Clay. While in Senate Jackson voted for protective tariffs and internal improvement bills, but soon “became convinced that the internal improvement policies favored by his enemies were a species of corruption and an outrageous drain on the treasury” . When the Maysville Road project was proposed that would build a highway across Kentucky, Jackson was quick to veto the bill. He viewed the issue of the road as a local, not national issue, therefore making it unconstitutional. Clay, borrowing a line from Hamilton, argued the road was a national issue and cited the necessary and proper clause.

Jackson vs. Clay Andrew Jackson vs. Henry Clay: Democracy and Development in Antebellum America is a book written by Harry L. Watson. Harry L. Watson writes the different stances of the presidential race in the Antebellum Era in America. He is very unbiased in his writing, clearly stating each presidential candidate. Andrew Jackson’s beliefs are clearly democratic, meaning he believed that a growing wealth and power in the business community may erode the equality of ordinary citizens. This party was also known as the ‘Jackson Party’.

Undoubtedly the first populist in United States history, Andrew Jackson’s rhetoric was radical for its time and highlighted a shift toward the interests of the general public in the political sphere. In particular, Andrew Jackson delivered populist rhetoric in campaign speeches for the 1828 Presidential Election. For example, speaking on June 1 1828, Jackson levied several comments that are characterised as populism. First, Jackson condemns the establishment as not being ‘”true” representative democracy”, suggesting that for the first time in history the United States has the opportunity to truly represent its people.

Henry Harrison who used the democratic techniques of portraying yourself as a common man to get elected. In order to win Harrison and the Whig party used Jacksons technique of being a "common man" and appealing to the lower class. He did this by portraying himself as "Farmer from North Bend" who was here to get rid of Jacksons influence in the government and to get rid of Jacksons men who were placed in the government due to the spoil system. However, in reality Harrison was a part of one the first families Virgina and owned a mansion on a 3,000-acre farm. Harrison and the Whig party brilliantly deceived and lied to the whole United States while still giving rise to mass democracy by appealing to the common people instead of the rich folks

This boosted the economy in America because now it was exporting and importing directly to countries instead of going through England. This demonstrated to some colonists that they didn’t really need to rely on England, and that they could sustain themselves on their own through their independent

I believe in the 19th century that the American history was vindictive. Back then they denied the rights to black folk and they also attempt to use education to destroy the Native American culture. Also, in the 19th century, a major event in American history was the quest for democracy and equality. They were lynching and beating African American during Reconstruction and segregation period in the south. By reading this I understand how we have it easy than back then.

The era of Andrew Jackson which was nicknames the era of the “common man” certainly lived up to its name. As the seventh President of the United States, Jackson had a major effect on the life of the common man, in such a way that the life of the common man would never be the same again. Jackson’s aim, after the manner in which he was defeated in the Presidential Election of 1824, despite receiving more popular votes than John Quincy Adams who took on the office, was to reduce the power and the authority of the elite. When he came into power after the 1828 election Jackson began to carry out his proposals. Jackson expanded the voting right to all men, in accordance with the Declaration of Independence of 1776 which declared that “all men are created equal” instead of just the elite.

Andrew Jackson was born in Waxhaw, South Carolina, March 15, 1767, and died June 8, 1845 in Nashville, Tennessee. He was known as the man of the people. People deem him ‘the common man of the people’ because he bribed his ignorant fans, supporters and illiterate farmers (who made up 90% of the populace) so he could have their votes (the ‘spoils system’). I see Andrew Jackson as a person who disobeys the constitution and violates people 's rights.

Andrew Jackson was seen as a common man the voice of the people by some. By others he was King Andrew, trampling the constitution and instigating tyranny. Jackson’s presidency impacted democracy, through his use of the veto power, and his claim of Clay creating a “corrupt bargain”, which is not a turning point for a rise in democracy despite him giving white male suffrage. During Jackson’s use of executive power weakened voice of the people.

Brittany Randall-Neppl APUSH Period 6 Mr. Kloster 12/19/2014 Andrew Jackson: Champion of the Common Man or Tyrant Andrew Jackson was born into a common life but overcame his mediocre beginnings to become a powerful politician; in 1828 he was elected president of the United States. However, he abused this position of power and made several choices that were detrimental to the welfare and rights of the American people. Jackson implemented the spoils system on a national scale and had unofficial members of his cabinet who did not have to answer to Congress. After South Carolinians were upset by the Tariff of 1832 he was angry toward those who did not agree with it. He also destroyed the National Bank and authorized the Specie Circular.

Henry Clay believed that the future success of the Americas was to be dictated by the effectiveness of “The American System”. After the war of 1812, the United States was flooded with imports from Great Britain. Coffee, tea, textiles, sugar, and many other items were delivered to American ports by multiple British manufacturers as they unloaded their inventories into the American market. While these products helped fulfill the stifled demand for inexpensive consumer goods, they undermined domestic manufacturing in America. In order to generate more revenue, the United States began by putting in place high tariffs to help protect its domestic industries.