[ek_hornbeck]

19th century tariffs were both a source of revenue and a tool to protect startup American industry from cheaper goods from (long-established) British and European industries. Washington and Hamilton realized that without protective tariffs, the US would not become a manufacturing power, it would be an economic backwater selling raw material and agricultural goods to Europe.

For most of the 19th century, the most important dividing issue between Republicans (and their Federalists/Whig predecessors) and Democrats (Democratic Republicans) was tariffs vs. free trade.

[Hawthorn]

>> Washington and Hamilton realized that without protective tariffs, the US would not become a manufacturing power, it would be an economic backwater selling raw material and agricultural goods to Europe <<

I don’t know about Washington’s position. Never studied it. But you’re correct about Hamilton. And Hamilton was flat-out wrong on the matter, as were Henry Clay and countless other Whigs, Free Soilers and Republicans. But I’ll give them a pass on the issue, since they opposed and ultimately abolished slavery.