- published: 25 Jun 2010
- views: 11827
Henry Clay, Sr. (April 12, 1777 – June 29, 1852), was a lawyer, politician and skilled orator who represented Kentucky separately in both the Senate and in the House of Representatives. He served three different terms as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and was also Secretary of State from 1825 to 1829.
Clay was a dominant figure in both the First and Second Party systems. As a leading war hawk, he favored war with Britain and played a significant role in leading the nation to war in 1812. Later he was involved in the "Corrupt Bargain" of 1824, after which he was appointed Secretary of State by newly elected President John Quincy Adams, earning the scorn of Andrew Jackson. He was the foremost proponent of the American System, fighting for an increase in tariffs to foster industry in the United States, the use of federal funding to build and maintain infrastructure, and a strong national bank. He opposed the annexation of Texas, fearing it would inject the slavery issue into politics. Clay also opposed the Mexican-American War and the "Manifest Destiny" policy of Democrats, which cost him votes in the close 1844 election.
Andrew Jackson (March 15, 1767 – June 8, 1845) was the seventh President of the United States (1829–1837). Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend (1814), and the British at the Battle of New Orleans (1815). A polarizing figure who dominated the Second Party System in the 1820s and 1830s, as president he destroyed the national bank and relocated most Indian tribes from the Southeast to west of the Mississippi River. His enthusiastic followers created the modern Democratic Party. The 1830–1850 period later became known as the era of Jacksonian democracy.
Jackson was nicknamed "Old Hickory" because of his toughness and aggressive personality; he fought in duels, some fatal to his opponents. He was a rich slaveholder, who appealed to the common men of the United States, and fought politically against what he denounced as a closed, undemocratic aristocracy. He expanded the spoils system during his presidency to strengthen his political base.
Henry Kelly climbed to the top of the tree
He was only four or five
He took his big wheel to the top of the tree and tried to take a ride
Henry Kelly fell and screamed like hell as his body bounced off the branches
He fell from the top of the tree to the ground and there wasn't a tooth left in his mouth when he landed
And the grown ups said "Oh Henry, Henry Kelly don't you see you could have died?"
But the kids said "Henry Kelly you're our hero
You can't tell if somethings possible if you don't try"
Henry Kelly waited for his big teethe to grow in
Then he grew up and he is fine
And unless you've heard the story told you might not even notice that he has a crooked smile
So all you kids with over protective parents now listen here to me
Go out and try stuff, get dirty, get hurt, don't be so scared of everything
And the grown ups said "Oh Henry Henry Kelly don't you see you could have died?"
But the kids said "Henry Kelly you're our hero
Can't tell if somethings possible if you don't try"
Kids need to see that kids can be kids and maybe get hurt sometimes
They might break some bones or lose some teeth but they hardly ever die
I hope that legends still get passed from kid to kid these days
About the crazy stunts tried by other kids both long ago and far away
Like the one about girl that made a plastic parachute
Jumped off the roof and broke her knees
Or how Gerald McGuire lost one of his balls when he flipped his A TV
Or how Henry Kelly climbed to the top of the tree
He was only four or five
He took his big wheel to the top of the tree and tired to take a ride