Question

What is a tariff and why were tariffs sometimes called "protective" during the 1800s (the antebellum time period)?

A) A tariff was a tax on cotton produced in South Carolina, and it was supposed to protect slaves from plantation owners.

B) A tariff was a tax on railroads being built in the West, and it was supposed to protect Native Americans so that they could keep their land.

C) A tariff was a tax on certain goods (imports and exports), and it was supposed to protect American manufacturers from foreign manufacturers.

Answer 1

A tariff is a tax on certain goods, both imports and exports. It was called "protective" in the 1800s because it aimed to protect American manufacturers from foreign competition by making imported goods more expensive.

Step-by-step explanation:

A tariff is a tax on certain goods, both imports and exports. It was sometimes called "protective" during the antebellum time period (1800s) because it aimed to protect American manufacturers from foreign competition. By making imported goods more expensive, tariffs made it cost-prohibitive for consumers to buy anything other than American-made goods, which in turn increased the profits of American manufacturers.