Biography:
- My name is Henry Clay, and I was born on April 12, 1777 in Hanover County, Virginia.
- I was the seventh of nine children and after my father’s death and the second marriage of my mother, my family moved to Richmond, Virginia.
- After displaying my natural ability for the understanding of law, I received a formal legal education at the College of William and Mary in Virginia, studding under George Wythe a mentor of Thomas Jefferson and John Marshall.
- After finishing school, I moved to Kentucky where I established myself as a successful lawyer and was later elected to represent Kentucky in both the Senate and the House of Representatives where I served as Speaker of the House.
- I am known as the “Great Compromiser” and noted for establishing the idea of “The American System.”
Issues:
- I was mainly involved with the economic plan called “The American System” which consisted of high tariff to support internal improvements, and a national bank to encourage enterprise.
- I believe that “The American System” is the best way to establish a successful republic and be a more independent state.
- My main inspiration was Alexander Hamilton’s idea American School which called for tariffs, government investments in transportation, and a national bank.
Solutions:
- With hard work, parts of the “American System” were enacted by the Congress.
- The national bank was rechartered in 1816 and high tariffs were maintained, but the funding of national improvements was never truly funded.
- Although never becoming president, I was successful in representing my ideas and contributing to the Missouri Compromise. I received much opposition from the Jackson administration.
Relationship to Others:
- Shared similar ideas with Daniel Webster and John C. Calhoun.
- Opposed by Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, James K. Polk, Franklin Pierce, and James Buchanan.
Wordle:
Naludka
