Protectionism and Free Trade in America

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The argument regarding protectionism and free trade in America can be traced back to our Founding Fathers. The first significant legislation passed by the First congress in 1789 and signed into law by President Washington on July Fourth was a protectionist tariff that provided for over 90 percent of the revenues to operate the new government and encouraged the building of industries and development of family farms. In contrast, Benjamin Franklin, who understood the danger of trade restrictions said, “No nation is ever ruined by free trade.” The argument has continued throughout history and is a major issue in current politics. To better understand this argument I turned to our most valuable resource, history, and as a result have found free trade with all nations to be the only correct policy for United States government. Tariffs should only be used to fund the necessary functions of government. (Ideally I feel there should be no tariffs or excise taxes.) .”
Prior to ratification of the Constitution, states had their own development policies. Delegates from the states sent to Constitutional Convention in 1787 put high priority on solving problems of interstate trade amongst states. Delegates chose to eliminate trade barriers between states. This allowed the division of labor to develop freely, thereby greatly increasing productivity. Despite our government’s insight into the benefits of free trade amongst states, protectionist ideals were still passed.
Trade restrictions on foreign products, also known as protective tariffs, were used by Alexander Hamilton during George Washington’s presidency. James Madison agreed with Secretary of Treasury Hamilton, with the belief that imposing protective tariffs such as the Tariff of 1816 would allow American producers to compete with their lower-priced foreign competitors. Acceptance of Hamilton's pro-industrial, anti-agricultural, anti-British foreign policy led to a series of international trade barriers, like the Embargo Act and the Non-Intercourse Act, extreme protectionist measures. Beginning with the tariff of 1816 these measures led to the Tariff of Abominations in 1828 that pitted the agricultural South against the industrial North. South Carolina led the way in nullifying the Tariff Acts of 1828 and 1832, and threatened secession of the national government.
Just as the states were forbidden to manage inters...

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...rency devaluations, and stagnant standards of living. We must heed the lesson that so many Americans have paid so dearly in liberty and prosperity for us to learn. America must choose free trade. That means that government at all levels must step aside and allow markets to work.
The lessons from American history for deciding current foreign economic policy are clear. American prosperity depends on enacting a policy of free trade at home and abroad. The right to choose those with whom we wish to trade goods, services, or even ideas, regardless of where they happen to live, is a right that should belong to everyone in the world. But regrettably, governments have erected barriers to "protect" their citizens from this freedom to trade with their international (and national) neighbors. Prior to leaving the presidency, Thomas Jefferson gave America advice: "Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none." Cutting ourselves off from our global neighbors is no way to promote peace or prosperity because there's only one way to tap the incredible potential that we all share, and only one way to share what each of us has to offer.

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