Tag: history

Did Tariffs Spark the Civil War? Reflecting on the Morrill Act at 150

Did protective tariffs truly lead to the Civil War? This question is one that nearly every enthusiast of the era encounters, standing as one of the most controversial and misunderstood debates surrounding the roots of secession, exactly 150 years ago. The debate around tariffs is contentious because it can appear to downplay slavery’s critical role in the Civil War’s origins. In this simplified view, the argument can be countered by South Carolina’s Declaration of Immediate Causes, which cited “an increasing hostility on the part of the non-slaveholding States to the institution of slavery” as its motivation for secession. However, while tariffs may not have been primary, dismissing their role entirely would be hasty. James W. Loewen, a sociologist, sought to…

FEE College Summer Seminars

Application deadline: CLOSED Applications will go live on January 1, 2012! Application Deadline: March 31, 2012 Since 1962, FEE has educated over 10,000 students at our annual seminar series. Join us this year as we continue the tradition and celebrate our 50th anniversary of seminars. We invite you to take part in the battle of ideas. Our distinguished faculty and liberty-loving colleagues create an environment that is both challenging and enlightening, providing what is consistently regarded as a memorable, life-changing seminar. *We do not allow minors (17 years of age or younger) to attend the college seminars.  If you are a minor, please see our options for high school students. This summer marks the 50th anniversary of FEE seminars, so find a program that is…