Rand conveniently forgets the period from 1865 to 1900 when the U.S. had the highest tariffs in its history and its highest economic growth. Tariffs allowed the U.S. to transition from a primarily agricultural economy, decimated by 4 years of civil war, to the largest industrial economy on the planet. In addition Rand forgets the Republican Party controlled the federal government for most of that time.
https://eh.net/encyclopedia/the-depression-of-1893/
Not in 1893...[not caused by tariffs, per se... but tipping points were definitely reached.]