TARIFF ACT OF 1816 APRIL 1816 TARIFF ACT OF 1816 U.S GOV'T LEGISLATIVE TRADE BUSINESS/COMMERCE U.S GOVERNMENT AND CONSTITUTION ECONOMY AND LABOR IN APRIL 1816 CONGRESS PASSED THE TARIFF IN 1816 TO ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW ENGLAND TEXTILE INDUSTRY A PROTECTIVE TARIFF PROTECTS HOME MARKETS BY PLACING A CUSTOMS DUTY OR TAX ON COMPETING IMPORTS THE TARIFF PUT A DUTY OF 25 CENTS PER YARD ON CHEAP COTTON CLOTH WHICH VIRTUALLY ELIMINATED FOREIGN COMPETITION IN THIS MARKET FOR THE FIRST TIME THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROTECTED A SPECIFIC DOMESTIC MARKET HENRY CLAY SPEAKER OF THE U.S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WAS THE CHIEF SUPPORTER OF A PROTECTIVE TARIFF CLAY WON SUPPORT FOR THE TARIFF IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE WAR OF 1812 BRITISH MADE GOODS POURED INTO THE U.S MARKET AND THREATENED THE YOUNG TEXTILE INDUSTRY WHICH HAD GROWN IN THE WAR YEARS WHEN FOREIGN TRADE DIMINISHED OPPONENTS CHARGED THAT PROTECTIVE TARIFFS WERE UNCONSTITUTIONAL DANIEL WEBSTER PROTESTED THE TARIFF OF 1816 ON THE BASIS THAT CONGRESS DID NOT HAVE THE POWER TO PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIAL ECONOMIC INTERESTS PROTECTIONISM AND CONTROVERSY CONTINUED WITH ADDITIONAL TARIFFS IN THE LATE 1820S
