Economic Issues in American History

 

I. Colonial Economics:

            A. Patterns of Settlement/Economic Growth

            B. Life under Mercantilism

            C. Economic Causes of the Revolution

                        1. Unfair taxation

                        2. Proclamation Line

                        3. Stamp Act

 

II. Confederation Period:

            A. Western Land Claims

            B. Economic Recession/Lack of Credit

            C. Paper Money and Lack of Economic Unity

 

III. Hamiltonian Vision:

            A. Funding and Assumption

            B. Excise Tax on Whiskey and Whiskey Rebellion

            C. The Debate over the National Bank: Hamilton vs. Jefferson

            D. Protectionism for Industry

 

IV. Attempts at Neutrality

            A. Freedom of the Seas and Impressment

            B. Jefferson’s Embargo and Non-Intercourse, War Hawks

            C. War of 1812 Stimulated Nationalist Growth

 

V. Era of Good Feelings:

            A. John Marshall’s Interpretation of Federal Power

            B. Clay’s American System:

                        1. National Bank

                        2. Protective Tariff

                        3. Internal Improvements

            C. Growth of Industry and Transportation Networks

           

VI. Sectionalism and Sectional Economics

            A. Slavery as a Sectional Issue: Missouri Compromise

            B. Growth of Western Influence

            C. The Tariff Controversy and Nullification

            D. Jackson’s War On The Second National Bank

            E. VanBuren and the Panic of 1837

 

VII. Expansionism Extends Sectional Problems:

            A. The 49ers and the California Question

            B. Oregon and Fur Trade

            C. Extension of Slavery and the Compromise of 1850

            D. Transcontinental Railroad and the Kansas-Nebraska Act

 

VIII. The Coming of the Civil War

            A. Panic of 1857

            B. Secession of the South, Failure of Crittenden Compromise

            C. Economic Advantages of the North, Failure of King Cotton

            D. Triumph of Hamiltonian Ideas: Homestead Act, Morrill Tariff, Railroad Grants

            E. Reconstruction Issues: Freedmen’s Bureau, Sharecropping,

 

IX. The Gilded Age:

            A. Grantism and Scandals: Credit Mobilier and Salary Grab

            B. Panic of 1873 and the demand for Greenbacks

            C. Republican Economic Policies: Tariffs and Laissez-Faire

            D. The Growth of Trusts: Oil, Steel and Transcontinental Railroads

            E. Granger Laws, Interstate Commerce Act, Sherman Anti-trust Act

            F. Social Darwinism, Gospel of Wealth, Horatio Alger’s self made man

 

X. Effects of Industrialism:

            A. Labor Unions Organize: Knights of Labor, AFL

            B. Major Strikes: Haymarket 1886, Homestead 1892, Pullman 1894

            C. Farmers Alliances and Granger Movements Merge into Populism

            D. Free Silverites, Civil Service Reform and Alliance of Big Business and Government

            E. Urbanization and Problems Associated with Urban Life, Panic of 1893

            F. Economic Empire Seeking

XI. The Progressives:

            A. Muckraking and Trustbusting with the Square Deal

            B. Elkins Act, Hepburn Act, Pure Food and Drug Act

            C. Conservationism and Gifford Pinchot

            D. Taft’s Progressivism and alliance with the Old Guard

            E. Underwood Tariff, Federal Reserve Act, Clayton Anti-trust Act

            F. War Industries Board and War Labor Board in World War One

           

XII. The 1920’s

            A. Labor Unrest and Persecution of Radicals

            B. Normalcy and Harding Scandals

            C. Trickle Down Economics, European Debt and Fordney-McCumber Tariff

            D. Consumerism, The Model T, and Speculation in Stocks and Real Estate

            E. The Great Crash and Hoover’s Solution: Rugged Individualism and the RFC

 

XIII. The Depression and New Deal

            A. New Deal Philosophy and the Three R’s

            B. Bank Holiday and Federal Relief: “action and action now”

            C. Key Programs: PWA, CCC, CWA, NRA, Social Security, FDIC, SEC, AAA

            D. The Fight with the Court

            E. Economic Controls and World War Two: The Arsenal of Democracy

 

XIV. Early Cold War Economics:

            A. GI Bill and the Fair Deal

            B. Marshall Plan and Point Four

            C. Taft-Hartley Act and McCarthyism

            D. Modern Republicanism under Ike: National Defense Education Act, Highway Act

           

XV. The 60’s and 70’s:

            A. New Frontier and Space Program

            B. Great Society and the War on Poverty

                        1. Medicare and Medicaid

                        2. Civil Rights Legislation

                        3. Education, Housing, Urban Renewal

            C. Nixon’s New Federalism and Revenue Sharing

            D. Oil Embargo and Inflation, Envorinmental Protection

 

XVI. The 1980’s

            A. The Reagan Revolution: Supply-side economics

            B. Tax Changes and Cuts in social spending

            C. Budget Deficits and Welfare Reform

            D. S&L Scandals, Renewed War on Drugs

            E. Recession of 1991 and Education