[Will88]

Interesting, but I've often that the sugar tariff protects primarily cane sugar producers in Louisiana in modern times. That industry would have preceded any transplanted cuban sugar interests by many decades.

American Sugar Cane League

I don't know who the biggest producers in the US are now.

[Original Lurker]

Kinda like corn in states like Iowa, etc.

[masadaman]

In my quick history I moved from the 18th century to 1956. There have been numerous iterations of sugar protective legislation. Generally speaking, pre-WWII, American per capita sugar consumption was less than half of what it is today so arguments to protect small farming interests both for cane and sugar beet growers (in the Western states) may have made genuine sense...helping the family farm etc.

Of interest, most of today's cane sugar production from Belle Glade FL to LA has the US Sugar Co. (a primary Fanjul holding) fingerprint as when you grow it and they themselves grow much, you must refine it. There are few alternative uses and the man who controls the refinery and the outlet is the man, period.

Slavery also played a role in many of the antibellum changes in sugar protection legislation both federal and state. Harvesting cane sugar is some of the most grueling work ever visited on ag workers, far more difficult and dangerous than cotton or lettuce. Today's American cane sugar harvesting still requires temporary labor often from the Caribbean as it is not work that Americans will do for almost any price.