Henry Clay as the Symbol of the Antebellum Era

The following example essay on “Henry Clay as the Symbol of the Antebellum Era” is about an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as Secretary of State and ran for President of the United States three times.

Give four examples where his success or failure reflected a broader social trend. Henry Clay, born a poor, orphaned boy from the Virginia slashes, became one of the most popular and influential political leaders in American History and the symbol of the Antebellum era.

The Antebellum era was the time period preceding the Civil War between the North and the South. This era was caught between the glory of the Revolutionary and Founding period and the spectacular drama of the Civil War – the bloody and destructive birth and rebirth of the nation.

A time filled with tumultuous political action, but lack of blood and gun powder – political action from fascinating and extremely influential characters such as Andrew Jackson, Jon Quincy Adams, Martin Van Buren, John Calhoun, etc.

It was the task of this generation and it’s political leaders to build on the legacy left by the Founding Fathers and more importantly preserve the Constitution and the Union; and to reinforce and embellish liberty and self-government.

At the center of these tasks and drama stood Henry Clay, the true symbol of this time. His unmeasurable devotion to the preservation of the Union, his record on slavery, and his rivalry with Andrew Jackson are three prime examples of how Clay as a political figure embodied the era of his time, it’s people, their popular views, and the trends.

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The key aspects of his life mentioned above are in direct relation to three of the most important aspects of the era, the Union and its state of togetherness, Abolitionism, and the Second American Political Party system. Henry Clay will never be questioned on his devotion to preserving the Union. He would sacrifice his most strongly held points of view when the integrity of the Union he so loved and so tried to keep together were threatened. The Union he put above all else. He was often credited as the man who kept the Union to.