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The Dismal Science and the Change to Come
This may come as a surprise to you. But over two hundred and fifty years ago there was no such animal as economics. Books that spoke about what evolved into modern-day economics had zero math in them. Homo Economicus, the selfish being that is all for himself, and cares none for the commons had yet to emerge. Morality and politics were part of it, as well as the effects on everyday life.
Back then the dominant system was mercantilism. The colonies were not allowed to develop their industry, and were forced to import finished goods. They mostly exported raw materials. Colonial powers kept to this very unequal relationship, which also protected nascent industries. This is why Alexander Hamilton was all for tariffs after independence. They had two goals. They would raise taxes for the nascent federal government. They would also protect American industry from more mature, better made, and cheaper goods.
This was not unique to the nascent United States. In fact, this was aired in the grievances of the Declaration. These are directly related to an early emerging industrial state:
>For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
>For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript