Running Head: THE AMERICAN SYSTEM, TRANSPORTATION, AND COMMUNICATION 1
The American System, Transportation, and Communication
Chamberlain University
HIST405N: U.S History
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, Running Head: THE AMERICAN SYSTEM, TRANSPORTATION, AND COMMUNICATION 2
The American system was developed to strengthen the nation’s economy. Congressman Henry
Clay introduced the American System in the early 1800s which consisted of three components;
“to develop internal improvements, protect U.S. industry through tariffs, and create a national
bank [ CITATION Rob19 \l 1033 ].” New and improved transportation technology allowed the
states for better transportation of goods and “brought what the historians called the transportation
revolution (Openstax, 2019).” Thus, in this paper I will be discussing Henry Clay’s idea of the
American System, how the American System would build the American market and economy
based on Clay’s idea, and I will analyze the role of mechanization and communication in the
American System.
The idea behind Henry Clay's American System is to foster growth and development. The main
idea was that by “protecting American manufacturers from foreign competition, ever-increasing
internal markets would spur American industries to grow [ CITATION Rob19 \l 1033 ].” Henry
Clays American System consisted of three equally supporting parts: “a tariff to protect and
promote American industry; a national bank to foster commerce; and federal subsidies for roads,
canals, and other internal improvements to develop profitable markets for agriculture
[ CITATION Rob19 \l 1033 ].” Henry Clay also envisioned a diversified economy. He
anticipated the United States as an agricultural and industrial nation. Furthermore, he focused on
the need to construct growing home markets for American goods. Clay contended that “blocking
cheap imported goods would ultimately benefit all Americans [ CITATION Rob19 \l 1033 ].”
The goal of the American System was to assist the United States and to build the nation’s
economy, while increasing the market growth. Therefore, all regions plus the Federal
Government would benefit from the high tariffs. The north would be protected by tariffs and
enable the northerners to buy farm products from the West and South. The south and west would
This study source was downloaded by 100000849840424 from CourseHero.com on 07-15-2022 08:55:30 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/44429183/Week-3-Case-Study-Vareladocx/
The American System, Transportation, and Communication
Chamberlain University
HIST405N: U.S History
This study source was downloaded by 100000849840424 from CourseHero.com on 07-15-2022 08:55:30 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/44429183/Week-3-Case-Study-Vareladocx/
, Running Head: THE AMERICAN SYSTEM, TRANSPORTATION, AND COMMUNICATION 2
The American system was developed to strengthen the nation’s economy. Congressman Henry
Clay introduced the American System in the early 1800s which consisted of three components;
“to develop internal improvements, protect U.S. industry through tariffs, and create a national
bank [ CITATION Rob19 \l 1033 ].” New and improved transportation technology allowed the
states for better transportation of goods and “brought what the historians called the transportation
revolution (Openstax, 2019).” Thus, in this paper I will be discussing Henry Clay’s idea of the
American System, how the American System would build the American market and economy
based on Clay’s idea, and I will analyze the role of mechanization and communication in the
American System.
The idea behind Henry Clay's American System is to foster growth and development. The main
idea was that by “protecting American manufacturers from foreign competition, ever-increasing
internal markets would spur American industries to grow [ CITATION Rob19 \l 1033 ].” Henry
Clays American System consisted of three equally supporting parts: “a tariff to protect and
promote American industry; a national bank to foster commerce; and federal subsidies for roads,
canals, and other internal improvements to develop profitable markets for agriculture
[ CITATION Rob19 \l 1033 ].” Henry Clay also envisioned a diversified economy. He
anticipated the United States as an agricultural and industrial nation. Furthermore, he focused on
the need to construct growing home markets for American goods. Clay contended that “blocking
cheap imported goods would ultimately benefit all Americans [ CITATION Rob19 \l 1033 ].”
The goal of the American System was to assist the United States and to build the nation’s
economy, while increasing the market growth. Therefore, all regions plus the Federal
Government would benefit from the high tariffs. The north would be protected by tariffs and
enable the northerners to buy farm products from the West and South. The south and west would
This study source was downloaded by 100000849840424 from CourseHero.com on 07-15-2022 08:55:30 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/44429183/Week-3-Case-Study-Vareladocx/
