Tariff and Trade Legislation

Question 1

Tariff of 1789

Answer 1

(1789) Primarily for revenue; some protection for “infant industries”; Washington Administration

Question 2

Tariff of 1816

Answer 2

(1816) First protective tariff; Clay and Calhoun supported as part of American System; Southern cotton growers opposed; Madison Administration)

Question 3

Tariff of 1824

Answer 3

(1824) Further heightening of rates; growing opposition from South; (Monroe Administration)

Question 4

Tariff of Abominations

Answer 4

(1828) Higher protective measures for New England mills; Southerners outraged, including Calhoun; (J.Q. Adams administration).

Question 5

Tariff of 1832

Answer 5

(1832) Moderate reform returned rates to 1824 levels; unmoved South Carolina sparked Nullification Crisis; (Jackson administration).

Question 6

Tariff of 1833

Answer 6

(1833) Clay compromise; gradual reduction of rates over time to 1816 levels; New England states opposed; (Jackson administration).

Question 7

Tariff of 1842

Answer 7

(1842) Upward revision forced by depression following Panic of 1837; (Tyler administration).

Question 8

Walker Tariff

Answer 8

(1846) Democrats controlled Congress; West supported tariff reduction in hope of selling grain abroad; move toward tariff for revenue only; (Polk administration).

Question 9

Tariff of 1857

Answer 9

(1857) Downward tariff revision to almost free trade status; North opposed; (Buchanan administration).

Question 10

Wartime Tariff Acts

Answer 10

(1861-1865) Steadily increased protectionism to help fund Union war costs; South not represented in Congress during Civil War; (Buchanan and Lincoln administrations).

Question 11

Tariff of 1872

Answer 11

(1872) Post-war reform tariff, reduced rates on some manufactured goods; (Grant administration).

Question 12

Tariff of 1875

Answer 12

(1875) Continued downward revision; average rates reduced by 10 percent; (Grant administration).

Question 13

Mongrel Tariff

Answer 13

(1883) Republicans abandoned reform; compromise satisfied no one; (Arthur administration).

Question 14

McKinley Tariff

Answer 14

(1890) Highest protective tariff to date: average 48 percent; (B. Harrison administration).

Question 15

Wilson-Gorman Tariff

Answer 15

(1894) Reform measure crippled by Senate amendments; (Cleveland 2nd administration).

Question 16

Dingley Tariff

Answer 16

(1897) Blatantly protective measure; some rates at 57 percent; (McKinley administration).

Question 17

Payne-Aldrich Tariff

Answer 17

(1909) Attempt to lower average level of duties; little meaningful reform; Progressives angered; (Taft administration).

Question 18

Underwood-Simmons Tariff

Answer 18

(1913) Democrats took control of Congress; general duty reduction soon negated by outbreak of World War I; federal income tax provision; (Wilson administration).

Question 19

Emergency Tariff

Answer 19

(1921) Republicans returned to power and responded to mini-depression; raised agricultural rates to protect farmers; only a stopgap measure until new law written; (Harding administration).

Question 20

Fordney-McCumber Tariff

Answer 20

(1922) Increased rates sharply; president empowered to adjust rates; Tariff Commission created to advise president; (Harding administration).

Question 21

Hawley-Smoot Tariff

Answer 21

(1930) Raised U.S. duties to an all-time high; 1,000 economists protested; foreign retaliation; (Hoover administration).

Question 22

Hull Trade Pacts

Answer 22

(1934) Reciprocal treaties to reduce tariffs and stimulate trade during depression; (F. Roosevelt administration).

Question 23

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)

Answer 23

(1948) United Nations organization created to seek tariff reductions. (Truman Administration)

Question 24

Trade Expansion Act

Answer 24

(1962) President received authority to negotiate tariff reductions up to 50 percent; aimed primarily at European Economic Community (later European Union); (Kennedy administration).

Question 25

Kennedy Round

Answer 25

(1963-1967) GATT talks aimed at tariff reduction, primarily with Western Europe; approximate 33 percent reductions; (L. Johnson administration).

Question 26

Tokyo Round

Answer 26

(1973-1979) GATT talks aimed at non-tariff trade barriers; included non-GATT members; (Nixon administration).

Question 27

Trade Act of 1974

Answer 27

(1974) President given authority to end tariff duties against products from developing nations; (Ford administration).

Question 28

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

Answer 28

(1993) U.S., Canada and Mexico end most trade barriers; (Clinton administration).

Question 29

GATT/WTO

Answer 29

(1994) New GATT agreement signed; World Trade Organization (WTO) formed; (Clinton administration).