Topic: History

Juneteenth and The Greatest Anti-Slavery Movement Ever

“Within two generations after the Founding, at costs in blood, sweat, and tears that most people today cannot imagine, the Americans abolished within the United States that ugly ancient practice that had existed for thousands of years elsewhere in the world.” ~ Thomas L. Krannawitter

How Trump and Biden Are Blowing Up the Free-Trade System America Worked So Hard to Build

“Globalization has helped generate previously unknown wealth – and health – in rich and poor nations alike. As evidenced by Trump and Biden, a President may use his unilateral tariff authority for ill.” ~ David B. McGarry

Happy 300^th, Adam Smith!

“He really did help to establish a presumption of liberty—that is, ‘allowing every man to pursue his own interest his own way’ as a presumption.” ~ Daniel B. Klein

If the Russian Revolution Never Happened, Who Was Karl Marx?

“What if the Russian Revolution had never happened? Would anyone today even know who Karl Marx was?” ~ Phillip W. Magness

Are Historians Politically Biased?

“If there are strong signs of association between a President’s deficit spending and his rank, then we can speak more robustly as to whether historians are letting their political priors bleed into their research.” ~ Vincent Geloso

Economic Growth Makes Graceland Less Impressive

“The real ‘capitalist achievement,’ however, isn’t Graceland. It’s the fact that compared to the stuff of the average person’s day-to-day life in 2023, Graceland just isn’t that impressive.” ~ Art Carden

Legal Mafias and Moral Asymmetries

“Legal doesn’t mean right. It doesn’t mean just. It doesn’t mean moral. The powerful get away with misdeeds because, for too long, we have conflated the domains. And this conflation goes all the way down.” ~ Max Borders

Ideas and Consequences: Seeing Visions Everywhere

“My vision is that we learn how to dress up a grumpy realism in snazzier clothing, and capture the noble aspirations of the unconstrained visionaries among us.” ~ Bruce Rottman

Eliminating Property Rights Destroys Social Order

“The parallels are never exact, but we can learn from history. When a foundation of a free society, such as property rights, is abandoned, the destruction of social order and hardship for countless millions follows.” ~ Barry Brownstein

Why Did The Redcoats Wear Red Coats?

“Students are often amazed and delighted by what the economic way of thinking can help us understand, and it is why instructors must look for every opportunity to instill the wonder of economics in their students.” ~ Anthony Gill

Gordon Tullock and the Economics of Slavery

Patrick Henry’s Stamp Act Resolutions

“After Henry left town, the House of Burgesses expunged the fifth Resolve on the 31st. It only remains with us because it was found in an envelope alongside Henry’s will.” ~ James R. Harrigan