what was hamiltons main purpose in proposing a protective tariff?
a. to support American businesses
b. to raise money for the government
c. to make the North stronger than the south
d. to provide funds for the bank of united states
b. to raise money for the government
a. to support American businesses
To determine Hamilton's main purpose in proposing a protective tariff, we can look into historical sources and the context of his economic policies.
Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury, believed in a strong central government and a robust economy. One of the ways he aimed to achieve this was through the proposal of a protective tariff. So, let's analyze each of the answer choices:
a. To support American businesses: This is a possible reason because a protective tariff would make imported goods more expensive, giving domestic businesses a competitive advantage.
b. To raise money for the government: While a protective tariff would generate revenue for the government through taxes on imported goods, it was not the main purpose of the tariff. Hamilton had other revenue-raising proposals, such as his plan for a national bank.
c. To make the North stronger than the South: While the North did have more industrial activity than the agrarian South, the protective tariff was not designed specifically to benefit one region over the other. It aimed to strengthen the overall economy of the United States.
d. To provide funds for the Bank of the United States: While Hamilton did propose the establishment of the Bank of the United States, the protective tariff was not directly linked to providing funds for it.
Considering these options, the most accurate answer to the question is: a. To support American businesses. Hamilton believed that protecting American industries through tariffs would encourage economic growth, create jobs, and foster national self-sufficiency.