Episode 3: The History of Tariffs in America

In this episode ofAPUSH for ALL, we unpack the complex history of tariffs in America, exploring their economic and political impact from the nation’s founding to the present. The gang discusses the dual purpose of tariffs—raising government revenue and protecting domestic industries—highlighting early policies like Alexander Hamilton’s vision for economic independence and the protective tariffs that fueled sectional tensions.

Key moments include theTariff of Abominations (1828) and theNullification Crisis, when South Carolina, led by John C. Calhoun, challenged federal authority. The episode also covers the infamousSmoot-Hawley Tariff (1930), which worsened the Great Depression, and modern trade policies from Reagan to Trump.

Do tariffs safeguard American jobs, or do they trigger economic downturns and trade wars? With connections to APUSH themes like federalism, economic policy, and globalization, this episode makes clear—tariffs are anything but boring.