The Tariff in Our Times

A narrative history traces U.S. tariff policy from its original role as a temporary wartime revenue measure through recurring financial panics and the rise of protectionist arguments. It recounts major legislative battles, political and business influences, and shifting public opinion that produced successive tariff acts, examining how economic crises, partisan maneuvering, and vested interests reshaped policy. The account combines chronological description of bills and debates with analysis of practical effects on industry and trade, and concludes with intellectual and moral reflections on how tariff-making often diverged from popular expectations.