I am trying to find out about the American System by Henry Clay, what was the systems mixed success?

Answer 1

In 1824 Clay built the platform from which he would launch his national political career. He made a passionate speech calling for federal revenue to pay for the building of roads and other necessary infrastructure, tariffs to protect American industry, and a strong national bank. Clay called it, “The American System”. Presidents Madison and Monroe had opposed using Federal government money on public works projects and questioned the constitutional legality of such an idea. For example, President Monroe had vetoed legislation that would have paid for repairs on the Cumberland road. Clay would argue that the “American System” was constitutional. If the government had the power to regulate commerce then the government had the right to build and maintain roads for the transportation of that commerce. But others would argue that the roads and canals were used primarily by private businesses and therefore should be paid for as part of their business expense. Was the “American System” a plan to provide for the general welfare, as called for in the Constitution, or a plan to make the taxpayers subsidize the business community?