The American System, Transportation, and Communication
Instructions
Pick one (1) of the following topics. Then, address the corresponding questions/prompts for your selected topic. Use at least one (1) documented example of the corresponding primary source in your writing.
Option 1: The American System, Transportation, and Communication
Read the following primary source:
Link (website): Of Debates in Congress (Clay’s Debate of the American System in 1832) (Links to an external site.) (Click on ‘Next Image’ to see all pages of the debate: pp.258-262.)
Then, address the following:
Describe the idea of Henry Clay’s ‘American System.’
Based on Clay’s economic vision of America, analyze how the American System would build the American market and economy?
Analyze the role of mechanization and communication in the American System.
Option 2: The Indian Removal Act of 1830
Read the following primary source:
Link (website): Transcript of President Andrew Jackson’s Message to Congress ‘On Indian Removal’ (1830) (Links to an external site.)
Then, address the following:
Evaluate the rationale that President Jackson used in the removal of the Native Americans from east of the Mississippi River. Did the removal have the intended impact?
Identify the responsibilities given to the President under the Indian Removal Act of 1830.
Compare Jackson’s actions toward Native Americans in the context of his First Inaugural Address with the path of events during the Trail of Tears.
Determine if the removal of the Native Americans from east of the Mississippi River violate the principles found in the Declaration of Independence?
Option 3: The Abolitionist Movement
Read the following primary source:
Link (website): Declaration of Sentiments of American Anti-Slavery Society (1833) (Links to an external site.) (Click on arrows to view all images of the document. Click on plus and minus signs to enlarge or reduce size of images.)
Then, address the following:
Assess if abolitionists were responsible reformers or irresponsible agitators?
Explain how abolitionists upheld the Declaration of Independence as the foundation of antislavery and abolitionist thought.
Assess the effect of the Gag Rule on the Abolitionist Movement.
Analyze how the women’s rights movement would gain momentum from the antislavery movement.
Writing Requirements (APA format)
Length: 2-3 pages (not including title page or references page)
1-inch margins
Double spaced
12-point Times New Roman font
Title page
References page
In-text citations that correspond with your end references
Sample Paper
Case Study #2
American System as a program for economic development was supported following the 1812 War by Henry Clay, a very powerful member of the Congress back in the 19th century (OpenStax, 2019). The system involved three equally reinforcing parts, including tariff to endorse and guard the American industry; the national bank to nurture commerce; the federal grants for the canals and roads, plus other “internal enhancements” to expand profitable agricultural markets.
The Idea of Henry Clay’s American System
According to McNamara (2019), Clay’s idea required the federal government to execute protective tariffs internal enhancements, and the national bank to help in developing the country’s economy. Henry’s primary argument for his program was that through defending the American producers from foreign competition, the ever-increasing internal markets could spur the American businesses to grow. For instance, firms in the Pittsburgh area would sell the iron to East coast manufacturers, exchanging iron smuggled from Great Britain. Numerous other country regions pursued security from the imports that would challenge them in the marketplace.
How American System Could Build Market and Economy
Based on Clay’s American economic vision, the American System would build the market and the economy by reducing the tariffs to encourage domestic industries’ growth. It would promote local manufacturing by affording a favorable environment. Increased taxes on foreign firms would alter their growth, spurring the development of the local industries. Also, reduction of tariffs would help understand the local trade and coasting tonnage while excluding the foreign firms. The lands price in New York could also increase due to global impact. Additionally, the national bank could encourage smooth currency flow in the American system. National banks would control the revenue gathered in-market to promote the nation’s liquidity. The bank would provide the manufacturers some money in request to help in their processes and set favorable interest rates to local manufacturers, encouraging borrowing and promoting their growth. The agricultural sector could increase due to incentives afforded by the local national bank to facilitate economic growth. The establishment of incentives to the agriculturalists could lead to surplus production offering food security and increasing imports. Sufficient food production could be enough for growing the population, and the imports could bring more resources to push the progress of the nation’s infrastructure.
Role of the Mechanization and Communication in the American System
Mechanization led to the nation’s prosperity by increasing American System production (Christiaensen, Rutledge & Taylor, 2021). It led to surplus production in both the industrial and agricultural sectors. Herds and flocks increased in the farms promoting nations’ food production. The surplus production created income via imports and exports, fostering economic growth. Public treasury overflew following an increase in currency, making Congress select ways to avoid excessive taxation to protect local manufacturers. On the other hand, communication played a very significant effect in the American system. It brought America together with other international regions. Some communication-based systems that linked America encompass the postal system, telegraph, phonography, and photographs. Telegraph, for instance, allowed individuals to communicate in long-distance with less time, whereas the postal system helped business people run businesses easily, connecting with others globally (OpenStax, 2019). Phonography had inventions that recorded sound; thus, business people applied them in marketing their products in a larger U.S parts. Photographs helped in preserving history. Thus, mechanization and communication played a key role in creating surplus production, enabling effective communication of individuals in other regions.
References
Christiaensen, L., Rutledge, Z., & Taylor, J. E. (2021). The future of work in agri-food. Food Policy, 99, 101963. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2020.101963
McNamara. (2019, February 16). How an economic plan pushed by Henry clay helped shape America. ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/economic-ideas-advanced-by-henry-clay-1773361
OpenStax. (2019). U.S. history. Openstax CNX. Retrieved from httgs://cnx.org/contents/g7ovulkl@6.18:gMXC1 GEM@7/introduction
