Episode 4: Tariffs: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Why are tariffs such a big political issue? What's the purpose of tariffs and, do they work? What does the Constitution say about tariffs?

Did you know that tariffs had a role in the onset of the American Revolution? How about the fact that they both protected the economy, and caused economic depressions? On more than once occasion, they influenced presidential elections. They also contributed to sectionalism and civil war.

This episode traces the American history with tariffs, their role in shaping the economy, and how they have impacted the politics of the United States.