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[[image:henryclay.jpg|200px|thumb|Henry Clay]]

[[image:henryclay.jpg|200px|thumb|Henry Clay]]

'''Henry Clay''' (April 12, 1777 – June 29, 1852) was one of the half-dozen most important American leaders in the 1812-1850 era, running three times for president, and losing each time. He represented the West—his state of [[Kentucky]]—in House and Senate, and founded and dominated the [[Whig Party]] during the [[Second Party System]]. Clay led the opposition to [[Andrew Jackson]], [[Martin Van Buren]], [[James Knox Polk]]  and [[Jacksonian Democracy]]. He is called the "Great Compromiser" for his leadership that prevented the slavery issue from ripping the nation apart in the [[Missouri Compromise]] in 1820, the [[Nullification Crisis]] in 1832, and the [[Compromise of 1850]]. His ideas greatly influenced [[Abraham Lincoln]] and the [[Republican Party]], which emerged after his death and promoted his ideas of national greatness through industry, banking and modernization.

'''Henry Clay''' (April 12, 1777 – June 29, 1852) was one of the half-dozen most important American leaders in the 1812-1850 era, running three times for president, and losing each time. He represented the West—his state of [[Kentucky]]—in House and Senate, and founded and dominated the [[Whig Party]] during the [[Second Party System]]. Clay led the opposition to [[Andrew Jackson]], [[Martin Van Buren]], [[James Knox Polk]]  and [[Jacksonian Democracy]]. He is called the "Great Compromiser" for his leadership that prevented the slavery issue from ripping the nation apart in the [[Missouri Compromise]] in 1820, the [[Nullification Crisis]] in 1832, and the [[Compromise of 1850]]. His ideas greatly influenced [[Abraham Lincoln]] and the [[Republican Party]], which emerged after his death and promoted his ideas of national greatness through industry, banking and modernization. Clay was a leading [[nationalist]].

Clay's economic goal was the modernization of the American economy, based on cities, railroads, factories, banks, and well-educated middle class entrepreneurs, in opposition to the Jacksonians who opposed modernization and wanted instead more western farms for their yeoman farmers.  Clay opposed "[[Manifest Destiny]]", geographical expansion and the [[Mexican War]]. Clay is considered (along with [[Daniel Webster]]) the leading conservative of his age, even though he was often defeated by the [[Jacksonian Democracy|Jacksonian liberals]].  

Clay's economic goal was the modernization of the American economy, based on cities, railroads, factories, banks, and well-educated middle class entrepreneurs, in opposition to the Jacksonians who opposed modernization and wanted instead more western farms for their yeoman farmers.  Clay opposed "[[Manifest Destiny]]", geographical expansion and the [[Mexican War]]. Clay is considered (along with [[Daniel Webster]]) the leading conservative of his age, even though he was often defeated by the [[Jacksonian Democracy|Jacksonian liberals]].