<Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> The American System was an economic plan that played an important role in American policy during the first half of the 19th century . Rooted in the "American School" ideas of Alexander Hamilton, the plan "consisted of three mutually reinforcing parts: a tariff to protect and promote American industry; a national bank to foster commerce; and federal subsidies for roads, canals, and other' internal improvements' to develop profitable markets for agriculture". Congressman Henry Clay was the plan's foremost proponent and the first to refer to it as the "American System". </P> <P> A plan to strengthen and unify the nation, the American System, was advanced by the Whig Party and a number of leading politicians including Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun and John Quincy Adams . The System ran counter to federalism and included: </P> <Ul> <Li> Support for a high tariff to protect American industries and generate revenue for the federal government </Li> <Li> Maintenance of high public land prices to generate federal revenue </Li> <Li> Preservation of the Bank of the United States to stabilize the currency and rein in risky state and local banks </Li> <Li> Development of a system of internal improvements (such as roads and canals) which would knit the nation together and be financed by the tariff and land sales </Li> </Ul>

What was the main purpose of the american system