The American System and American Politics

The American System was based on a nationalistic understanding of the country and served as a political centerpiece first for the National Republicans and later the Whigs. Both groups believed that the union was created by the American people, instead of the states, to last for all time. In addition, it was assumed that the federal government was to be more powerful than state governments. A strong system of federally sponsored tariffs, roads and canals would permanently safeguard this political union and refine American culture. As such, many proponents of the American System were motivated by nationalistic zeal and moralistic passion as well as political ambition. Many historians have understated the moralistic and religious dimension of the American System, while overemphasizing the nationalistic side of the concept. The moralistic and religious aspects of the American System made the idea resilient and persistent in pursuing its goal of achieving a strong federal union through various economic and cultural projects.

Although Jackson and Southern political leaders each played crucial roles in the demise of the American System, the programme also failed due to an inherent contradiction. As scholars have consistently agreed, the American System was based on the assumption that diverse regional interests throughout the country could be reconciled through political and economic compromises. Also, it has been assumed that the nationalism felt among ordinary Americans would overcome sectional differences. However, such sentiments proved to be wishful thinking. There was not enough cohesiveness in the country to outweigh the persistent sectional jealousies in antebellum American society. State and regional loyalties proved too strong for the nascent nationalism of the period to coalesce around a system of internal improvements. The simple fact that Henry Clay from Kentucky, a pro-protection and pro-internal improvements state, could continue his support for the American System, while John C. Calhoun, from South Carolina, ended up embracing states' rights ideas, indicated the strength of state loyalties.