Was the South opposed to protective tariffs?

Before the War of 1812, tariffs had primarily served to raise revenue to run the national government. Another unique aspect of the tariff was the strong support it received from the Southern states. The South consistently opposed protective tariffs for the rest of the ante bellum period.

How did Southerners feel about tariffs?

The South was badly hurt by these tariffs. They could not sell as much of their products at a loss of money and had to pay more for the manufactured goods they needed. They too had to buy processed goods from northern factories due to lack of imports.

What did Confederate soldiers fight for?

The Confederate States Army, also called the Confederate Army or simply the Southern Army, was the military land force of the Confederate States (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865) that fought against United States forces to maintain the institution…

Why did the south oppose tariffs?

The South opposed higher tariffs because they would make imported goods more expensive for Southerners. The West opposed tariffs because they do not need internal improvements.

How did the tariff lead to the Civil War?

A pernicious lie quickly formed around the passage of the tariff, one that suggested that this tariff had somehow caused the American Civil War. Ignoring slavery's central role in bringing about secession and the Civil War, this tariff myth has survived in the United States for more than a century and a half—and must be debunked once and for all.

Why did Southerners oppose the new tariff?

It was widely believed that the new law favored industries based in the Northeast and would penalize the Southern states, which were more dependent on goods imported from Europe. The southern states strongly opposed the new tariff.

Where did the myth of the tariff come from?

But the myth did not originate in the United States – it first took root in Free Trade England. Southern congressmen had opposed the protectionist legislation, which is why it passed so easily after several southern states seceded in December 1860 and the first months of 1861.

Why was the Morrill Tariff so unpopular in the South?

The southern states strongly opposed the new tariff. The Morrill Tariff was also particularly unpopular in England, which imported cotton from the American South and in turn exported goods to the United States. The idea of a tariff was actually nothing new. The US government had first enacted a tariff in 1789,…