The American System Analysis

The period after the civil war saw the United States of America economy transform to become a national economy and an industrial giant. The already existing industries quickly expanded and new ones emerged including steel manufacturing, electrical power, and petroleum refining. This period saw the rapid expansion of the railroad network which would subsequently connect even the remote parts of the country into the national economic grid essentially transforming the regional markets into a national economy. Following the economic expansion, the American society was greatly transformed creating a new crop of wealthy individuals and a dynamic middle class. Additionally, there was a vast expansion of blue collar job opportunities which quickly

Under the American System, Clay had four principles: the improvement and development of the system of roads and canals through federal financing that would connect New Orleans to the Canadian border to expand the country’s market; the insulation of the domestic industries and businesses through a protective tariff; the efforts towards having a stable currency through re-chartering the Bank of the United States; and sourcing of public financing through the sale of public lands at higher prices (Heidler & Heidler, 2011). Even though Clay’s system received opposition during the era of the Jacksonian Democracy, it would subsequently be revitalized after the end of the civil war long after his death in 1852. The American System would play a crucial role in fueling the Manifest Destiny belief that saw great economic development in the

Following the great explorative successes, some Americans would soon venture westwards which was largely supported by rhetoric, law and the vision of the founding fathers to have a far-reaching territory. As the manufacturing industry rose in New England, the westward expansion was both timely and economically viable. The American settlers were moving rapidly to what is referred to as the Midwest today and this necessitated the development of infrastructure through the development of canals, roads, and railroads. The rapid expansion of infrastructure, more specifically the railroads, would then purge the country into a new era of medicine, manufacture, and agricultural inventions (Neil, 1964). The Midwest became an inspiration that saw the symbolic development of the American identity in the 19th century with development of acting, painting, and writing. Through such developments, America was quickly gaining worldwide recognition both in the intellectual world and