Henry Clay and the American System

Warm Up –

American System

Why was the election of 1824 called the
‘Corrupt Bargain’?

What changed in U.S. voting rights before
Jackson was elected to president?

What was Jackson criticized for by other
politicians while he was president?

What was the Nullification Crisis?

What was the Trail of Tears?

Henry Clay and The
American System

US Industrialization Post-War of 1812

Industrial and Economic Conflicts

Growth After 1812: US industrialization accelerated,
especially in the 1830s.

Political Conflict: Debates emerged over the role of
government in industry and infrastructure.

Regional Connections: Industrial growth and
transportation advancements linked the North, South,
and West.

Inspired by Britain: The US transitioned from an
agrarian to an industrial economy, following Britain's
example.

Industrial Revolution

Expanded Transportation: Development of
roads, canals, and railways linked regions and
facilitated trade.

New Power Sources: Waterpower and steam
power were harnessed, driving machinery and
increasing production efficiency.

Improved Production: Industrial processes were
enhanced, allowing for faster and more efficient
manufacturing of goods.

Government Support: Protective tariffs were
enacted to shield and nurture American industries
from foreign competition.

Henry Clay and the Whigs

Economic Nationalism: Henry Clay and the
Whigs supported a strong federal role in
building infrastructure across the United
States.

Unified Economy: The goal was to boost the
nation's overall economic success, moving
away from regional independence.

The American System: Clay's plan focused
on expanding production and strengthening
the US economy by developing infrastructure
and supporting industry.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes Henry Clay's and the Whigs' approach to economic nationalism?

• They believed in minimal government intervention in the economy.

• They supported a strong federal role in developing infrastructure.

• They focused solely on the agricultural economy.

• They opposed any form of government support for industry.

The American System

Three components to the American
System:

1. Protective tariffs that made imports more
expensive.

2. Infrastructure spending; Federal
government would pay for transportation
projects like roads, canals, and railroads.

3. Establish national bank and national
currency

THE NEED TO CONNECT THE UNITED STATES

Abundant Resources: The nation had plenty
of natural resources and the ability to harness
waterpower for factory operations.

Labor Force: A growing immigrant population
provided the workforce needed in factories.

New Transportation: Innovations in
transportation connected farms, factories, and
markets across regions.

Overcoming Distance: Connecting raw
materials, factories, and markets was
essential for industrial and economic
expansion.

CREATING INFRASTRUCTURE

Toll Roads: Private companies built roads
starting in the 1790s, funded by tolls for
maintenance.

River Transportation: Barges were used on
rivers where roads were unavailable, though
limited by river direction.

Steamboats: The introduction of steamboats
allowed upstream travel, improving river
transport.

THE IMPACT OF CANALS ON TRANSPORTATION

Canal Construction: In areas without
rivers or roads, canals were built as
artificial waterways.

Erie Canal: Spanning 363 miles, it
connected the Great Lakes to the Atlantic
Ocean.

Economic Benefits: The Erie Canal
reduced transportation costs and time,
opening up new markets.

Settlement and Connections: It
facilitated western settlement, improved
links to Atlantic states, and significantly
lowered shipping costs.

Match

Match the following descriptions to the correct term related to canal construction.

• Opened up new markets and reduced transportation costs.

• Projects by state and federal governments to build transportation networks.

• Facilitated the movement of settlers and goods to western regions.

Erie Canal

Infrastructure Improvements

Western Settlement

• Erie Canal

• Infrastructure Improvements

• Western Settlement

THE RISE OF RAILROADS

Railroads in the 1830s: A faster mode of
transportation that boosted commercial
production and the economy.

Advantages Over Canals: Railroads were
cheaper, quicker, and less labor-intensive to
build.

Expansion by 1850: 9,000 miles of railroad
tracks crisscrossed the United States, further
reducing transportation time.

Impact: These advancements led to a more
interconnected nation.

Categorize

Options (4)

Cheaper and quicker to build than canals

Reduced transportation time

Connected distant regions

Increased economic integration

Drag and drop the following statements to indicate whether they are advantages or outcomes of railroad construction in the 1830s and 1850s.

Advantages

Outcomes

CONNECTING THE UNITED STATES

19th-Century Transportation and Industrial Growth

Regional Connections: Transportation
advancements linked the North, South, and West.

Industrial Expansion: The North's factories,
powered by rivers and immigrant labor, thrived.

Raw Materials: The South and West supplied the
raw materials for manufacturing.

Infrastructure Improvements: State and federal
governments improved roads, canals, and
railroads, making goods transport easier.

Henry Clay’s Role: Henry Clay was key in
promoting industrialization and economic
nationalism.

THE RISE OF LARGE CITIES

Urban Growth and Industrialization

Migration to Cities: Industrialization attracted
rural people to towns for higher-paying factory
jobs.

City Populations: Many cities saw their
populations double or triple.

New York City: By the 1820s, it was the
nation's largest city, with rapid business
growth.

Financial Expansion: NYC's growth led to the
expansion of the financial district on Wall
Street and the New York Stock Exchange.

Word Cloud

In your opinion, what was the most significant factor that contributed to the rise of large cities during the 19th century? (Submit your response in one or two words.)