Henry Clay

Personal Statement:

Hello, my name is Henry Clay. I was born April 12, 1777 in Hanover County, Virginia. My parents are Reverend John Clay, who passed away in 1781, and Elizabeth Hudson Clay, and I am also the seventh of nine children. I grew up in Hanover County but ten years after my father passed my stepfather moved our family out to Richmond where I worked as a clerk and later a secretary to the chancellor of the High Court of Chancery. I had very little regular education, but I often read from books in Wythe's library and made the best of the little education I had. I moved to Lexington, Kentucky in 1797 and became a successful while also meeting my wife ,Lucretia Hart, two years later and who I have 11 children with. My lifestyle was  similar to that of any man living in the South or West. I was a drinking and gambling man, but that didn't stop me from having great political success. The world was my school and as John Quincy Adam's said, I am a half educated man with all the virtues indispensable to a popular man.

Issues:

I was an American political leader and secretary of state, and I came to national prominence as leader of the "War Hawks," who drove the country into the War of 1812. I was a Congressman and was elected Speaker of the House six times. I was chosen to as part of the group of men to go make the Treaty of Ghent. I also developed the "American System" that involved the Bank of the U.S and protective tariffs. One of my best known achievements was the Missouri Compromise. For the next 40 years, I worked for international peace and sought to reconcile warring factions in the nation. I was a big presence in the abolition movement.

Solution:

Even though my American system was put into effect, it didn't reach its full potential until after the civil war. I believe in a functioning economy based off of protective tariffs. Another thing to note is that although I made the Missouri Compromise, I was neither for or against slavery. I was indeed a slave owner, but I believed in the eventual emancipation of slaves. I was successful in both of my goals, but it didn't come easy, I faced a large amount of opposition, especially from the controversy of the "Corrupt Bargain".

Relationship to others:

Overall I could say that I could sit next to almost anyone who isn't a Jacksonian due to the "Corrupt Bargain" issue. Since I am neutral to the slavery issue I would have no problem sitting next to someone like Frederick Douglas, or even someone who supports slavery.