Segment from Paying Up

On the Cheap

The Backstory hosts discuss the ways that the tax system in Early America hid many of the costs of national development.

00:00:00 / 00:00:00

Patrick Henry

Host Peter Onuf travels to Colonial Williamsburg to interview “Patrick Henry” about his role in the Stamp Act rebellion of 1765.

00:09:28

On the Cheap

The Backstory hosts discuss the ways that the tax system in Early America hid many of the costs of national development.

00:03:38

Nullification Crisis

Peter Onuf gives a primer on the 19th century protective tariff, and Ed Ayers explains why the South hated it so much.

00:04:28

Tariff Values = Family Values

Host Ed Ayers speaks with historian Rebecca Edwards about how both Republicans and Democrats argued about the tariff in the terms of domesticity.

00:07:28

Listener Call 1

The Backstory hosts field a listener call about the founders and the income tax.

00:07:03

Listener Calls 2 and 3

More listener calls about the history of taxation in America.

00:12:45

Taxes in War & Peace

Host Brian Balogh talks about why Americans gladly paid high taxes after WWII, but soured on taxes in the 70s and 80s.

00:05:00

Web Extra: Patrick Henry, Uncut!

Listen to our special web-only version of Peter’s probing conversation with radical patriot leader Patrick Henry (with a little help from Colonial Williamsburg interpreter Richard Schumann… )

What you need to know about this interview:

It takes place in 1765, obviously!
Several months ago, Britain’s parliament passed the Stamp Act, effectively imposing a new direct tax on any American colonist involved with printing of any kind.
Patrick Henry, just elected to the House of Burgesses, has reacted by authoring a set of resolves denouncing the Stamp Act in no uncertain language.

Listen on for more…

00:16:10