Henry Clay

Kelley Briggs
John Benton
History 201
December 2, 2003
Henry Clay and the “Corrupt Bargain”
Henry Clay was an American statesman for nearly two-thirds of his entire life. His remarkable skills as a political negotiator earned him the title of the Great Compromiser. Clay’s most popular compromises involved reconciling the hostile arguments over slave-ownership between the Northern and Southern states in the early 1800’s. Clay was known to be charismatic, a great leader, and to have a panache for oratory. These traits made him one of the most idolized men of his era.
Henry Clay was born on April 12, 1777, on a farm in Hanover County, Virginia. He was born to a middle-class family who resided in a neighborhood known as “The Slashes.” His biological father passed away when Clay was still very young. Although he received very little formal education, he was able to study law under George Wythe and set up his own lucrative law practice in Lexington, Kentucky. Kentu...