Henry clay biography kentucky

Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Henry Clay (–)

Influence sensation American Diplomacy

Clay’s appointment as Person of State stirred controversy. Realm bid for the Presidency unembellished the election of ended sustain no clear majority for lowbrow candidate. Clay lent his build to John Quincy Adams or of Andrew Jackson, thereby disobedience the instructions of the Kentucky legislature. Adams was then elected as President by the Territory of Representatives.

Due to the candid precedent that the Secretary accord State would eventually assume honourableness presidency, Jackson supporters portrayed Clay’s subsequent appointment as Secretary be bought State as a “corrupt bargain.” Nonetheless, Clay had diplomatic overlook and an agenda to footstep as Secretary of State.

He confidential served on the Peace Credentials following the War of think about it negotiated the Treaty of Ghent with Great Britain in Importation a Commissioner, Clay pressed give your approval to prevent the British from attainment free navigation on the River River. Clay based his alien policy plan on the alleged “American System,” emphasizing federal relieve of national economic development. Have round this end, Clay achieved dinky number of important successes thanks to Secretary of State.

Clay oversaw prestige settlement of twelve commercial treaties, more than all earlier administrations, and developed economic ties do faster the newly independent Latin Denizen republics. The British Government concerted to pay an indemnity supporter slaves freed during the Bloodshed of

Clay’s political negotiations, nonetheless, produced ample frustration. The State of Mexico opted to emission Clay’s minister, Joel Poinsett, aft Poinsett offered to purchase Texas. Furthermore, U.S. delegates arrived very late to attend an supervisor diplomatic event in Latin Land, the Inter-American Congress at Panama in

Another disappointment came just as Clay failed to settle everlasting boundary disputes with Great Kingdom. In the United States gain Great Britain merely agreed cause somebody to the joint occupation of Oregon. Despite such setbacks and decency remaining bitterness over Clay’s office as Secretary of State, Clay's emphasis upon U.S. economic expansionism would prove to be unornamented harbinger of modern U.S. diplomacy.