Henry Clay: The Great Compromiser (Spirit of America: Our People) [Hardcover]

Michael Burgan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2004 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Spirit of America: Our People

Henry Clay devoted his life and work to strengthening the United States. In his time he was an economist and a passionate believer in compromise. For Clay, the Union was the key to his heart . Young students will love reading about this important figure in America's history.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Child's World, Inc. (January 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592961746
• ISBN-13: 978-1592961740
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,570,947 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A juvenile biography of Henry Clay, the Great Compromiser, June 23, 2004

By 

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Henry Clay: The Great Compromiser (Spirit of America: Our People) (Hardcover)

Henry Clay is considered one of the greatest U.S. senators ever and along with John C. Calhoun and Daniel Webster made up the great triumvirate that had their last great battle in debating the Compromise of 1850. Clay also served as Speaker of the House of Representatives and ran for president several times as a Whig (he lost all those times, of course, but seeing as how both of the Whig candidates who won the White House died in office, that was not necessarily a bad thing). This juvenile biography of "Henry Clay: The Great Compromiser," part of the Our People series, explains to young readers while Clay is remembered for his political service at a time when American was developing as a nation. Clay is best known for promoting what he called the "American System," an argument for the United States government creating a strong national economy. Known as the Great Compromiser, Clay is identified with a political principle that historian Shelby Foote identifies as being the quality that best represents American genius.

As is the well established pattern with this books, Michael Burgan looks at Clay's life in four chapters: (1) Young Lawyer and Politician explains how Clay's family settled in Kentucky, where his first forays into politics say him actually finish out the term of a U.S. Senator; (2) Leader of the House tells how Clay finish rose to national prominence when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and became Speaker of the House by the end of the War of 1812; (3) Presidential Politics covers Clay's failed attempts to become President; and (4) Last Years in Washington focuses on his pivotal role in the Great Compromise of 1850, which put off the Civil War for another decade. Burgan does a god job of highlighting the principles and policies Clay supported that are now part of the government today, although those points could easily get lost just in detailing Clay's political resume.

This volume is illustrated with historic paintings and prints on almost every page, but the strength of the book is the presentation of information. There are informative sidebars on key subjects such as The First Parties and The War of 1812, and the margins are filled with Interesting Facts, like how Clay studied law with the same famous lawyer who taught Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe. The back of the book includes a Time Line of Clay's life, Glossary Terms from "abolitionists" to "investors," assorted sources For Further Information, and an Index. Having told the story of the influential senator of the West, the Our People series needs to turn to Calhoun of the South and Webster of the East. assorted sources For Further Information, and an Index.