Editing Internal improvements (section)

==Later efforts==
{{Main|American System (economic plan)}} {{See also|Cornerstone Speech}}
[[Henry Clay]]'s ''American System'', devised in the burst of [[American nationalism|nationalism]] that followed the [[War of 1812]], remains one of the most historically significant examples of a government-sponsored program to harmonize and balance the nation's agriculture, commerce, and industry. This "System" consisted of three mutually reinforcing parts: a tariff to protect and promote American industry; a national bank to foster commerce; and federal subsidies for roads, canals, and other "internal improvements" to develop profitable markets for agriculture. Funds for these subsidies would be obtained from [[tariff]]s and sales of public lands. Clay argued that a vigorously maintained system of sectional economic interdependence would eliminate the chance of renewed subservience to the free-trade, laissez-faire "British System." In the years from 1816 to 1828, Congress enacted programs supporting each of the American System's major elements. After the [[First inauguration of Andrew Jackson|1829 inauguration]] of [[Andrew Jackson]], with his administration's emphasis on a limited role for the federal government and sectional autonomy, the American System became the focus of anti-Jackson opposition that coalesced into the new [[Whig Party (United States)|Whig Party]]  under the leadership of Henry Clay.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Classic Senate Speeches – Henry Clay: In Defense of the American System (February 2, 3, and 6, 1832)|url=https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/Speeches_ClayAmericanSystem.htm|publisher=United States Senate|access-date=February 24, 2017}}{{PD-notice}}</ref>