Does America’s past hold the answers to current crisis?

 

Over the past four decades, the United States has experienced rapid deindustrialization, leading to a shrinking middle class, rising inequality, and numerous struggling cities across the “Rust Belt” and Middle America. Can America – and Europe – learn valuable lessons from the past to address these issues?

In this video, we explore the insights of America's founding leaders from the 18th and 19th centuries, such as Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, and Abraham Lincoln, who understood the critical importance of manufacturing, industries, and infrastructure. Discover how the construction of the great canals and railways in the 1800s contributed to the USA's rise to power.

We delve into the historical balance between free trade and protectionism that America achieved, striking an optimal mix of trade and tariffs to protect fledgling industries while embracing competition at the right time. Anton Chaitkin’s two-part series, “Who We Are – America’s Fight for Universal Progress, from Franklin to Kennedy,” offers valuable inspiration from history.

Join us as we uncover the economic fundamentals that shaped America's past and explore how these lessons can inform our future strategies for growth and progress.