Henry George on How the Civil War Led to High, Persistent Tariffs September 15, 2016 by Miles Kimball “Nor could protection have reached its present height in the United States but for the civil war. While attention was concentrated on the struggle and mothers were sending their sons to the battle-field, the interests that sought protection took advantage of the patriotism that was ready for any sacrifice to secure protective taxes such as had never before been dreamed of—taxes which they have ever since managed to keep in force, and even in many cases to increase.” — Henry George, Protection or Free Trade