The Civil War is often framed as a moral struggle over slavery, but what if economic control was the real driving force? In this lecture, historian Thomas DiLorenzo challenges the mainstream narrative, arguing that Lincoln’s true priority was preserving federal tariff revenues rather than ending slavery. By tracing how tariffs fueled sectional tensions, DiLorenzo exposes how Northern industrialists benefited from protectionism at the South’s expense—and how Lincoln’s war ensured the federal government’s economic dominance. Was the war really about union and emancipation, or was it a fight to maintain Washington’s grip on the economy?

Lecture 1 of 10 from the Steven Berger Seminar: Thomas DiLorenzo on Liberty and American Civilization.

Lincoln's Tariff War

While President Trump‘s tariffs certainly are causing economic harm, they alone could not cause a recession had there not already been years of artificial credit expansion.

Read the article here: https://mises.org/mises-wire/theres-only-one-possible-cause-next-recession-and-it-isnt-tariffs

The Mises Institute is giving away 100,000 copies of Murray Rothbard’s, What Has Government Done to Our Money? Get your free copy at https://mises.org/gabfreebook

Be sure to follow the Guns and Butter podcast at https://Mises.org/GB

There’s Only One Possible Cause of the Next Recession, and It Isn’t Tariffs

The federal government didn't take charge of immigration policy until the 1880s. In the early republic, almost everyone agreed that immigration policy was a matter for the states.

Register for Our Enemy The Bureaucracy now at https://Mises.org/Phoenix25.

Register for our Revisionist History of War Conference now at https://mises.org/rhw

Be sure to follow Radio Rothbard at https://Mises.org/RadioRothbard

Radio Rothbard mugs are available at the Mises Store. Get yours at https://Mises.org/RothMug 
PROMO CODE: RothPod for 20% off

A Brief History of Immigration Policy in America

Two reasons why Trump won't/can't get rid of the IRS:

1. It's political suicide to get rid of payroll taxes.

2. Tariff revenue isn't nearly enough to fund the federal government at the levels the welfare/spending-addicted voters demand.

Be sure to follow the Loot and Lobby podcast at https://Mises.org/LL

Why Trump Can't (or Won't) Abolish the IRS

Part Three: Gratuitous Goods and the State

Chapter 11 of Abundance, Generosity, and the State: An Inquiry into Economic Principles audiobook.

From pp. 333–364 in the print edition.

Chapter 11. Haunted Donations

Part One: The Nature of Gratuitous Goods

Chapter 2 of Abundance, Generosity, and the State: An Inquiry into Economic Principles audiobook.

From pp. 63–94 in the print edition.

Chapter 2. The Nature of Donations

You’ve heard endless debate about the trade deficit, but what about its evil twin, the budget deficit? In this episode, Mark Thornton untangles the truth behind the so-called “twin deficits,” revealing why trade imbalances aren’t necessarily bad, and how government borrowing distorts investment, fuels inflation, and weakens long-term prosperity. Mark cuts through the economic fog and shows what’s really dragging us down.

Additional Resources

“Trade Deficits and Fiat Currencies” by Robert Murphy: https://mises.org/MI_115_A

“The Evil Twins: U.S. Federal Budget Deficits and U.S. Trade” by Jane L. Johnson: https://mises.org/MI_115_B

“The Twin Deficits” by Gary North: https://mises.org/MI_115_C

"A Dollar as Good as Gold" by Lewis E. Lehrman: https://mises.org/MI_115_D

Join the Mises Institute on April 26 in Phoenix, Arizona, as we expose the danger and waste of bureaucracy: https://Mises.org/Phoenix25

Be sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

The Twin Deficits

President Trump has threatened to use the armed forces to go after the drug cartels in Mexico. Escalating the disastrous War on Drugs by incorporating the failed strategies of the War on Terror is a terrible idea.

Read the article here: https://mises.org/mises-wire/bringing-war-terror-our-southern-border-can-only-end-disaster

The Mises Institute is giving away 100,000 copies of Murray Rothbard’s, What Has Government Done to Our Money? Get your free copy at https://mises.org/gabfreebook

Be sure to follow the Guns and Butter podcast at https://Mises.org/GB

Bringing the War on Terror to Our Southern Border Can Only End in Disaster

Donald Trump says he plans for a big 12% jump in military spending, he has threatened war with Iran, and has escalated the war with the Houthis. None of this has anything to do with defending the United States. 

Register for Our Enemy The Bureaucracy now at https://Mises.org/Phoenix25.

Register for our Revisionist History of War Conference now at https://mises.org/rhw

Be sure to follow Radio Rothbard at https://Mises.org/RadioRothbard

Radio Rothbard mugs are available at the Mises Store. Get yours at https://Mises.org/RothMug 
PROMO CODE: RothPod for 20% off
Register for Our Enemy The Bureaucracy now at https://Mises.org/Phoenix25.

Register for our Revisionist History of War Conference now at https://mises.org/rhw

Be sure to follow Radio Rothbard at https://Mises.org/RadioRothbard

Radio Rothbard mugs are available at the Mises Store. Get yours at https://Mises.org/RothMug 
PROMO CODE: RothPod for 20% off

Trump Wants Even More Military Spending

In this episode, Mark Thornton explores the looming threat of hyperinflation in the US. With the national debt soaring past $33 trillion and future obligations exceeding $100 trillion, can America avoid a financial crisis where prices skyrocket out of control?

Mark examines historical hyperinflations in leading economies like France and Germany, and how excessive government spending and debt played a role. Drawing on the insights of Ludwig von Mises, Mark dissects the three phases of inflation and what happens when the public loses faith in holding money.

Is hyperinflation merely an accounting problem, or does it portend economic ruin and societal breakdown? Tune in to find out, and to explore the potential consequences for our future.

Additional Resources
“Hyperinflation, Money Demand, and the Crack-Up Boom” by Thorsten Polleit: https://mises.org/MI_116_A

“Hyperinflation and the Destruction of Human Personality” by Joseph T. Salerno: https://mises.org/MI_116_B

Further Readings on Hyperinflation (Oxford University Mises Society): https://mises.org/MI_116_C

Economic Policy: Thoughts for Today and Tomorrow by Ludwig von Mises: https://mises.org/MI_116_D

The Theory of Money and Credit by Ludwig von Mises: https://mises.org/MI_116_E

Join us May 15-17, 2025, at the Mises Institute for our Revisionist History of War Conference. This is our first history conference in almost 30 years. For more details and to register, visit https://Mises.org/rhw.

Be sure to follow Minor Issues at https://Mises.org/MinorIssues

Prospects for Hyperinflation

The Mises Institute, founded in 1982, is an educational institution devoted to advancing Austrian economics, freedom, and peace in the classical-liberal tradition. Our website offers many thousands of free books and thousands of hours of audio and video, along with the full run of rare journals, biographies, and bibliographies of great economists.

Lincoln's Tariff War

Mises Institute

Related tracks