HENRY CLAY’S AMERICAN SYSTEM The Industrial Revolution in America

Technological Developments The North:  Old way of making stuff = craft  Eli Whitney introduces interchangeable parts  Sam Slater brings plans for textile mill from Britain.  Mass production = decline of craft Eli Whitney Sam Slater

Textile Mill

Technological Developments The South:  Eli Whitney’s cotton gin

Societal Developments In the North: Cities arise around rivers Everyday items become cheaper, standard of living rises. Mills need workers  “spare daughters” leave farms  Live in boarding houses at mill  Called Waltham or Lowell System Slavery declines and outlawed in many states.

Before the cotton gin The rise of the Cotton Kingdom

After the cotton gin

Societal Developments In the South: Slavery grows, expands westward. The value of slaves increases.

Political Developments Are the North and South growing more alike or more different? Sectionalism!!!! What to do? Call the marriage counselor Henry Clay!

Political Developments Henry Clay’s American System Goal: create regional interdependence!  North = manufactured goods to sell to South and NW  South = cotton to sell to North  Northwest = dairy / beef / grains to sell to North & South But wait... There’s more!!!!

Political Developments Henry Clay’s American System (cont’d) PLUS: Revive the national bank = stable currency Raise protective tariffs = buy American Gov’t. builds roads and canals = better internal trade and communication

Early canal buidling

Major canals in 1840