"Speech of Henry Clay, In Defence of the American System."
- Creator(s):
- Clay, Henry.
- Title:
- "Speech of Henry Clay, In Defence of the American System."
- Description:
- Lincoln idolized U.S. Senator Henry Clay (Whig Party, Kentucky) and supported his ideas for economic modernization, which Clay called the American System. This system included tariffs to protect American industry and agriculture, sales of public land to provide funding, infrastructure spending to improve transportation, and a national bank to provide a stable currency. Between 1816 and 1828, Congress enacted programs in each of these areas. Southerners objected in particular to the tariffs, which they felt benefited only other regions. In response, Clay delivered his widely lauded Defence of the American System speech over three days to a packed chamber. He attacked the opposing Democrats’ emphasis on limited government and sectional autonomy with a compelling argument for protective tariffs.
- Source:
- Photograph by Vincent Dilio. Courtesy of David M. Rubenstein.
- Citation:
- Clay, Henry. "Speech of Henry Clay, In Defence of the American System". Washington, D.C.: Gales & Seaton, 1832.