Why Did Northern Politicians Support Higher Tariffs?
The debate on tariffs is a longstanding and complicated one, and northern politicians often favored higher tariffs than their southern counterparts in the 19th century. Here are a few key points regarding what caused these politicians to support higher tariffs:
Economic Reasons
- Protecting Northern industry: A higher tariff would restrict imports and make it harder for cheaper foreign goods to compete with those manufactured in the North, thus protecting local businesses.
- Generating income: One upside of tariffs is that they generate income for the government, and this income can be used to fund infrastructure or social programs.
- Creating jobs: Tariffs also lead to an increase in job opportunities and higher wages, as local businesses can afford to hire more workers and pay comparatively higher salaries when foreign competitors are restricted.
Political Reasons
- Internal taxes: Northern politicians saw tariffs as preferable to enacting internal taxes, as this would not disproportionately burden the south and would keep taxes more localized.
- Keeping the Union together: High tariffs united the north, and this served as a bulwark against any potential secessionist movements in the South.
- Ensuring federal power: Northern politicians saw higher tariffs as a way to increase federal power, as any tariffs collected would have to be paid in gold or silver and could not be printed or lent, thus making the government financially stronger and more independent.
In conclusion, while higher tariffs can produce mixed results, in the 19th century they allowed Northern politicians to protect businesses, generate revenues and ensure federal power, while also keeping the Union together and avoiding internal taxes—all of which proved to be very attractive incentives.
4. How did regional differences in tariff opinions shape the debate?
Regional differences in tariff opinions significantly shaped the debate between pro-tariff and anti-tariff advocates. Proponents of tariffs argued that certain tariffs were necessary to protect the interests of some local or regional industry, while opponents argued that they were merely protectionist and would increase the cost of essential goods. The debate became particularly intense in the early 19th century, when many Northern states favored tariffs to protect their manufacturing industries, while Southern states opposed them because they relied more heavily on agriculture and free trade. In addition, legislators from the agricultural Midwest argued that tariffs should be kept low, while mercantile districts on the East Coast argued for much higher tariffs. This dispute sparked bitter debates between tariff advocates and opponents in Congress and the press.
2. How did tariffs affect the Northern economy?
Tariffs played a major role in the northern economy during the 19th century. Tariffs provided the government with a reliable source of revenue and allowed northern manufacturers to increase their profits. The tariff system protected northern industries from foreign competition, and encouraged the development of new factories. This in turn led to increased economic growth, a stronger currency, and higher wages. The tariff system also encouraged the establishment of businesses and the migration of skilled labor to the north, which further boosted the regional economy.