The American System: Henry Clay And John C. Calhoun

The Second Party System was a significant part of the culture, politics, society, and economic of the Jacksonian Era. The Second Party System was divided into two major political groups, the Jacksonian Democracy and the Whig Party. Andrew Jackson lead the Democratic Party and Henry Clay presided over the Whig party. Stephen Douglas, Mantin Van Buren, John C. Calhoun, Lewis Cass, and James K. Polk are well-known figures of the Democratic party. On the other hand, William H. Seward, Daniel Webster, and Thurlow Weed were famous Whig politicians figures. “The Second Party System reflected and shaped the political, social, economic, and cultural currents of the Jacksonian Era until succeeded by the Third Party System in 1854.” (Boundless.com) The Second party lasted from about 1828 to 1854 in the United States.

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’. Jackson was born in Tennessee, he supported the power of businesses, he was quite violent, but a great leader. On the other hand, Henry Clay was a part of the Whig party, sometimes known as the Republican party. He believed in the growth of the economy and businesses. His party

Despite their differences and detestations against each other, Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay were both political leaders who possessed similar characteristics and philosophies. In the book Andrew Jackson vs. Henry Clay , the author Harry L. Watson described the two leaders’ loathing for each other, but he also wrote about the likenesses and related circumstances that Jackson and Clay underwent in Antebellum America. Both men’s beliefs and philosophies played a major role in the formations of the two-party system. With their dedication of preserving the federal Union, both Jackson and Clay devoted themselves to the government and also influenced politics in American public life. One concept that is most notorious about them, however, is the fact that they wholeheartedly despised each other. Watson’s book further describes that Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay mainly had political differences, morals, and characteristics.

The longest and most dreadful downturn in economic history tossed millions of the hardworking people of America into poverty, for more than a decade neither the federal government or the free market were able to restore themselves from prosperity. Due to the Great Depression, an impetus was provided for President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, this deal would forever change the relationship between the government and the American people. The New Deal was considered to be one of the most remarkable times of political reform in American history. In hindsight, it began to become easier to view the New Deal as the essential response to the Depression. However, the New Deal at the time was only one of the countless possible responses to an American capitalist system that had professedly lost its way.

In the 19th century, American politics started change drastically from the old system which seemed to be fading away. The idea of democracy was born in America through the influence of politicians. The American people started to realize their place in the growth of the country. They realized that their involvement in politics could benefit them. Andrew Jackson for a time was the face of democracy to the American people. To him, democracy is the people’s involvement in politics through themselves or representatives. Jackson came from an extremely poor background and was known for his tenacious character which helped him in his journey of becoming the president of the country. Jackson served two terms in office and even after his death was still

Around the presidential election of 1824, the presidential candidates -John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, and Andrew Jackson- took part in the “Corrupt Bargain”, an alliance made between Adams and Clay in order to secure Adams’ presidency. During the Electoral College, Jackson received 99 votes in front of Adams who received 84 votes, while Jackson did receive more votes, he had not gotten a majority of votes, so the House of Representatives were to choose the next president. The spokesman of the House of Representatives, Henry Clay, was to choose between the two candidates. Instead of choosing for the sake of the country, Clay chose to help himself, as Adams had offered him a position as the secretary of state. After Adams’ presidency was secured,

In my personal opinion, the moral dilemma that Jefferson faced resided in political reality. Jefferson had always advocated a very strict platform of Republican values up until this point. This position had been seen early on in his disagreements with Alexander Hamilton in President Washington's cabinet. In the election of 1800, Jefferson was able to articulate a new type of government that was filled with Republicanism. Jefferson took office and acted as if he was the epitome of Republican values. Republicans believed that the role of government needed to decrease. Jefferson tried to minimize federal control through reducing its reach and scope. He pursued a laissez- faire approach to governance in his time as President, which meant that

The American System was a plan brought forth by Henry Clay, about economic development. The American system was brilliant plan that allowed federal funding for internal development. This plan created a protective tariff in order to protect American businesses but in turn created a high tariff on imported goods some American industries can strive. The American System helped the textile business, while British were bringing clothes over and selling them cheaper. The American system also wanted to create high land states, so that the revenues my help economic development. The American System also created higher land taxes to get more money for the government infrastructure, this included construction of canals and roads which would be financed

John C. Calhoun served as Adams vice president, Calhoun supported states rights. Calhoun to prevent the federal government from weakening states rights. John C. Calhoun was a very significant individual in the South and in our country. John C. Calhoun was a young war hawk that got elected to Congress. He favored going to war with Great Britain. He also served in the United States House of Representatives and was Secretary of War under James Monroe and Secretary of State under John Tyler.

Alexander Hamilton was a man who strongly believed in a powerful central government. This means he wanted the government to rule and have all the say. Thomas Jefferson was a man who strongly believed in the union of the states with government as a humble leader. The two opposing views caused two political parties to be born, The Federalists, and The Democratic-Republican Party. The Federalists would eventually cease in 1828 and The Democratic-Republican Party would spilt and become the two political parties of today.

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.

The election of 1824 was undoubtedly unique, but it seems it may have been the result of a corrupt bargain that John Quincy Adams himself had set up.

I feel they should not remain on-soil once they were emancipated if they wanted to be free for good from slavery. He also believed women should be allowed to participate in the anti-slavery society. Abolitionists argued against slavery because of its harsh conditions being stuffed into the hulls of a ship like cargo. It was illegal for them to learn reading and writing. Finally, working conditions were long and hard, especially for field workers, and violence was an ever-present part of life. The pro-slavery writer James Hammond and John Calhoun were famous for writing the Famous Mudsill Speech to the U.S. senate that articulated the pro-slavery political argument during the 18th centuries. These pro-slavery theorists championed a class-sensitive

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 argued that even if the Maysville Road was a national issue he would still have vetoed the bill because “the treasury was now exhausted and the road could not be built without an increase in the national debt” . In the views of Jackson, the national debt prevented true independence. His main goal was to reduce and repay the debt. As president he made

The quote from James Madison consists of two parts. First is his statement that “If men were angels, no government would be necessary.” This is an affirmation of John Locke’s social contract theory which seemed to be widely accepted at the time. That is to say, without laws the state of human nature is chaos, but by agreeing to a social contract in the form of laws and government, order and harmony emerge. If men were angels, their nature would not be towards chaos, and thusly no social contract would be necessary. Since men are not angels, government is needed to maintain order.