Henry Clay
Henry Clay:
A Rising Nation: At the Center of It All
Strati Young
History 2010
Dr Dixon
10 Nov 2010
Many great men have been credited with helping America transform from a fledgling group of colonies, trying to assert the independence won from the British, to a “real” nation capable of holding its own on stage in the changing world of the 19th century. For most non-historians, the names of the Presidents during that era like Jefferson, Madison, Quincy-Adams and Jackson would almost be synonymous with that change. However, there is one who history has largely forgotten; Henry Clay. Henry Clay failed to win bids for the presidency five times and was often said of him, that he was always acting for his own self-interest. The fact remains that for almost fifty years, he managed to be at the center of every major issue facing the American nation, thus securing his position as one of the great American patriots as serving one of two terms as a President never could.
Who was Henry Clay?
Henry Clay was born on April 12, 1777, in Hanover County, Virginia. From 1793 to 1797, he served as secretary to George Wythe, chancellor of the High Court of Chancery. Henry had little regular education, but he read in Wythe 's library and learned to make the most of scanty information. He moved to Lexington, Ky., in November 1797 and made a reputation as a lawyer. In 1803 Clay was elected to the Kentucky Legislature. In 1806 and again in 1810 he was sent to the U.S. Senate to fill out short terms. In 1811 he was elected to the House of Representatives. He was immediately chosen Speaker and was elected six times to that office, making it a position of party leadership.
Clay was a candidate for the presidency in 1824, but three others received more votes, so that his name did not go to the House for election. In 1831 he was elected to the Senate and remained in that office until 1842. Clay was the Whig presidential candidate in 1844, but his equivocation on the
A Rising Nation: At the Center of It All
Strati Young
History 2010
Dr Dixon
10 Nov 2010
Many great men have been credited with helping America transform from a fledgling group of colonies, trying to assert the independence won from the British, to a “real” nation capable of holding its own on stage in the changing world of the 19th century. For most non-historians, the names of the Presidents during that era like Jefferson, Madison, Quincy-Adams and Jackson would almost be synonymous with that change. However, there is one who history has largely forgotten; Henry Clay. Henry Clay failed to win bids for the presidency five times and was often said of him, that he was always acting for his own self-interest. The fact remains that for almost fifty years, he managed to be at the center of every major issue facing the American nation, thus securing his position as one of the great American patriots as serving one of two terms as a President never could.
Who was Henry Clay?
Henry Clay was born on April 12, 1777, in Hanover County, Virginia. From 1793 to 1797, he served as secretary to George Wythe, chancellor of the High Court of Chancery. Henry had little regular education, but he read in Wythe 's library and learned to make the most of scanty information. He moved to Lexington, Ky., in November 1797 and made a reputation as a lawyer. In 1803 Clay was elected to the Kentucky Legislature. In 1806 and again in 1810 he was sent to the U.S. Senate to fill out short terms. In 1811 he was elected to the House of Representatives. He was immediately chosen Speaker and was elected six times to that office, making it a position of party leadership.
Clay was a candidate for the presidency in 1824, but three others received more votes, so that his name did not go to the House for election. In 1831 he was elected to the Senate and remained in that office until 1842. Clay was the Whig presidential candidate in 1844, but his equivocation on the
Bibliography: Colton, Calvin. The life and Times of Henry Clay. Vol. I. New York: Garland Publications, 1974. "Henry Clay Biography." Encyclopedia of World Biography. n.d. http://www.notablebiographies.com/ (accessed November 18, 2010). Pessen, Edward. Jacksonian America, Society, personally, and Politics. Geogetown, Ontario: The Dorsey Press, 1978. Schurz, Carl. "Wikisource." n.d. http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Life_of_Henry_Clay/05_The_War_of_1812 (accessed 11 21, 2010). Shaw, Ronald E. Andrew Jackson 1767-1845. Edited by Howard F Bremer. Dobbs Ferry, New York: Oceana Publications, 1969. Unites States Senate. 11 24, 2010. http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/Speeches_ClayAmericanSystem.htm (accessed 11 24, 2010). 1. Colton, Calvin. The life and Times of Henry Clay. Vol. I. New York: Garland Publications, 1974. 2. "Henry Clay Biography." Encyclopedia of World Biography. n.d. http://www.notablebiographies.com/ (accessed November 18, 2010). 3. Pessen, Edward. Jacksonian America, Society, personally, and Politics. Geogetown, Ontario: The Dorsey Press, 1978. 4. Schurz, Carl. "Wikisource." n.d. http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Life_of_Henry_Clay/05_The_War_of_1812 (accessed 11 21, 2010). 5. Shaw, Ronald E. Andrew Jackson 1767-1845. Edited by Howard F Bremer. Dobbs Ferry, New York: Oceana Publications, 1969. 6. Unites States Senate. 11 24, 2010. http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/Speeches_ClayAmericanSystem.htm (accessed 11 24, 2010).