BUILDING UNITY
The War of 1812 was, in a sense, a second war of independence that confirmed once and for all the American break with England . With its conclusion, many of the serious difficulties that the young republic had faced since the Revolution dis- appeared . National union under the Constitution brought a balance between liberty and order . With a low national debt and a continent awaiting exploration, the prospect of peace, prosperity, and social prog- ress opened before the nation .
Commerce cemented national unity . The privations of war con- vinced many of the importance of protecting the manufacturers of America until they could stand alone against foreign competition . Eco- nomic independence, many argued,
was as essential as political inde- pendence . To foster self-sufficiency, congressional leaders Henry Clay of Kentucky and John C . Calhoun of South Carolina urged a policy of pro- tectionism — imposition of restric- tions on imported goods to foster the development of American industry .
The time was propitious for rais- ing the customs tariff . The shepherds of Vermont and Ohio wanted pro- tection against an influx of English wool . In Kentucky, a new industry of weaving local hemp into cotton bagging was threatened by the Scot- tish bagging industry . Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, already a flourishing center of iron smelting, was eager to challenge British and Swedish iron suppliers . The tariff enacted in 1816 imposed duties high enough to give manufacturers real protection .
In addition, Westerners advocat-