By: David Simpson

David Simpson — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 07:40:48 +0000

Thank you very much for a wide ranging and intelligent discussion. I was surprised that none of you made any reference to the British Empire’s abolition of slavery throughout the empire, at considerable cost (compensating slave owners and using the navy to suppress the slave trade). Why was Britain able to do this and not America? And how much impact did that have on the debate in America? Also no reference to the considerable negative impact on the southern states of the federal government’s tariff policy, which was designed to protect northern manufacturers and effectively penalise the south. At some points in the run up to the civil war the south through tariffs was funding the majority of federal government expenditure. I believe at some point the south actually offered to abandon slavery in exchange for the abolition of tariffs. Lincoln refused because he depended on the revenue from tariffs (much of which was collected at Fort Sumter)

Comments on: Happy Juneteenth! | Guest: Tom Krannawitter | Words & Numbers | Ep 511

By: David Simpson