Final answer:
The American System sought to finance improvements primarily through high tariffs, which were intended to protect young American industries and fund internal developments.
Step-by-step explanation:
A key idea in the American System was to pay for improvements through high tariffs. The American System, proposed by Henry Clay, included a plan to support internal improvements such as infrastructure, facilitate a stable currency, and protect nascent American industries from foreign competition through tariffs.
The path they chose was to raise additional revenue for the government primarily through higher tariffs on imported goods, rather than options like sales taxes, income taxes, or the sales of land.
This approach was deemed beneficial as it would potentially spur growth in domestic manufacturing by making imported goods more expensive, thereby encouraging consumers to buy American-made products.
It was also a means of funding internal improvements that would enhance the ability to move goods and raw materials throughout the country.