History 
Essential
A Different Story
By Stephen Davies: "Politics and power do indeed have far-reaching effects on people’s lives in a dramatic way. However, the view of history, and of human social life more generally, that we get from the classic lists of important dates is partial and distorted."
"To Begin the World Anew" - Politics and the Creative Imagination
By Bernard Bailyn: "The creative reorganization of the world of power and all its implications has happened at various points in history, but rarely, if ever, I believe, as quickly, successfully, and -- so it seems to me -- mysteriously as by a single generation on the eastern shores of North America two hundred years ago."
The Tide in the Affairs of Men
By Milton Friedman and Rose D. Friedman: "The aim of this brief essay is to present a hypothesis that a major change in social and economic policy is preceded by a shift in the climate of intellectual opinion. The intellectual tide is spread to the public by all manner of intellectual retailers: teachers and preachers, journalists in print and on television, pundits and politicians. "
National Emergency and the Erosion of Private Property Rights
By Robert Higgs and Charlotte Twight: The scope of private property rights in the United States has been greatly reduced during the 20th century. Much of the reduction occurred episodically, as governmental officials took control of economic affairs during national emergencies—mainly wars, depressions, and actual or threatened strikes in critical industries."
The Sixteenth Amendment: The Historical Background
By Arthur A. Ekirch,Jr.: "One of the briefest amendments, it has also been one of the most important and far-reaching in our history."
Colonial Origins of the American Constitution: A Documentary History
"A collection of eighty documents which demonstrate how local government in colonial America was the seedbed of American constitutionalism."
The History of the Origins of Representative Government in Europe
By François Guizot: "Guizot reflects on the principles, goals, and institutions of representative government in Europe from the fifth to the reign of the Tudors in England."
Lectures on Modern History
By Lord Acton: "These are the lectures given by the great English classical liberal historian, Lord Acton, in the academic years 1899-1901 at Cambridge University. It is a survey of modern history from the rise of the modern nation state to the American Revolution. The book also contains his “Inaugural Lecture” of 1895."
Nation, State, and Economy: Contributions to the Politics and History of Our Time
By Ludwig von Mises: "Examines and compares prewar and postwar economic conditions and explicates Mises’s theory that each country’s prosperity supports rather than undercuts the prosperity of other countries."
The Constitution of the United States of America
As the supreme law of the land, the American Constitution acts to limit the role of government to the defense of our rights against foreign and domestic threat.
Declaration of the National Anti-Slavery Convention
By William Lloyd Garrison: "Every man has a right to his own body—to the products of his own labor—to the protection of law—and to the common advantages of society."
Associations in Civil Life
By Alexis de Tocqueville. "Thus the most democratic country on the face of the earth is that in which men have, in our time, carried to the highest perfection the art of pursuing in common the object of their common desires and have applied this new science to the greatest number of purposes."
What Sort of Despotism Democratic Nations Have To Fear
By Alexis de Tocqueville. "It would seem that if despotism were to be established among the democratic nations of our days, it might assume a different character; it would be more extensive and more mild; it would degrade men without tormenting them."
The Federalist No. 10
By James Madison. "Among the numerous advantages promised by a well constructed Union, none deserves to be more accurately developed than its tendency to break and control the violence of faction."
The Liberty of Ancients Compared with that of Moderns
By Benjamin Constant: "The danger of modern liberty is that, absorbed in the enjoyment of our private independence, and in the pursuit of our particular interests, we should surrender our right to share in political power too easily."
Independent Study Guide: History
Liberty Guide offers a comprehensive resource for the independent study of history. The study guide provides access to articles and reviews, online publications, blogs, associations, book recommendations and more. This guide is an indispensable tool for aspiring students of liberty.
The Writings of James Madison
"This volume contains his public papers and his private correspondence, including speeches in the First Congress and Address to the General Assembly to the People of the Commonwealth of Virginia."
The Writings of Thomas Paine
"The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind. Many circumstances have, and will arise, which are not local, but universal, and through which the principles of all lovers of mankind are affected, and in the event of which their affections are interested."
Recommended
Ask the Expert: Why Can Judges Compel Testimony?
The fact that judges can compel testimony and, if someone doesn't answer, send him to jail for refusing may seem to conflict with the notion of a free and just society. Cato legal associate Trevor Burrus, however, explains that certain procedures are necessary to preserve our broader system of liberties. When reading the brief legal history Burrus provides, it becomes clear that our current legal system is much better than those of the past, and it actually does a good job at maintaining peace and constitutional limits.
This was the latest addition to our Ask the Expert column. To submit a question of your own for a Cato scholar to answer, write to AskTheExpert@cato.org.
What YAF’s Expulsion of Ron Paul Says about the Conservative Movement
There has been a lot of buzz about Ron Paul recently being kicked off the Young Americans for Freedom's national advisory board. Chris Preble, Cato's director of foreign policy studies, explains what that move says about the conservative movement. Despite the motivations behind why YAF may have given Ron Paul the boot, Preble notes that such an event highlights the split between so-called conservatives, as many move toward a more limited, constitutionally and fiscally restrained government of strategic prudence and away from a more neo-conservative persuasion.
End the Fed?
The Fed, while being a private entity, is tasked with some major responsibilities in managing the American monetary system and economy. Cato scholar Richard Rahn, a former presidential economic advisor, weighs in on what's wrong with the Fed and what to do about it. He notes that, on the surface, if we didn't know better, we'd think "the elected officials are trying to sabotage the economy." But that is just a reality of the often mutually exclusive goals of the Fed. In fact, Rahn says, "The Fed is in an impossible situation. It has been given multiple targets — i.e., a constant-value dollar, bank stability, consumer protection and full employment — plus being required to outguess the market." He highlights that the Fed has historically had trouble accomplishing any of these tasks, and concludes with a perplexing question, "Why are we keeping a failed institution?"
What Causes the Economic Pie to Shrink?
At a time when the economy is impacting Americans’ holiday budgets, the U.S. government is contemplating increases of both taxes and unemployment support. That, according to Cato's Michael Tanner, causes the economic pie to go in the opposite direction than we desire, shrinking rather than expanding it. "We know that in the long run, the best way to reduce poverty is to create more jobs and opportunity. Too many think of the economy as a fixed pie, and the role of government is to divide up the slices of that pie," says Tanner. If we are truly trying to aid the poor and increase general welfare of all Americans, we should embrace the policies that reduced poverty from 75 to less than 20 percent over the past century.
Can a Libertarian Be Thankful?
As the Thanksgiving holiday rapidly approaches, Cato executive vice president David Boaz notes that while many bemoan the liberties being lost daily to an overactive congress and paternalistic government, it helps to step back and consider how much there is to be thankful for – including the freedom to do the aforementioned bemoaning. Among many key freedoms, Boaz lists important elements of the American life that stand out historically as great advances. This Thanksgiving Day, if you’re used to being disgruntled at government intrusion into your life, that’s fine, America isn’t heaven. But, as Boaz highlights, “Compared to countries that lack the rule of law, equality, property rights, free markets, and freedom of speech and worship, it certainly is.”
American Exceptionalism: The Great U-Turn
Has the U.S. prospered because of “American Exceptionalism,” or could other factors be at play? James Bennett outlines an excellent history of why America differs from most other developed, English-speaking countries. The reason for the successful growth of the U.S. economy over the past 50 years directly relates to its turn from popular and trending socialism and its embrace of markets – supported democratically and legislatively. This was a practical U-turn from where most developed societies were headed in the mid-20th century. While the “socialism gap,” as Bennett calls it, has narrowed recently due to much of the world shifting toward freer markets and the U.S. expanding its progressive policies, the nurtured nature of the American public is to buck extensive government oversight and react democratically to correct things (i.e. Look out in November).
Does Spending Create Prosperity?
In a recent article, George Mason University economist Russ Roberts addresses the question of how top-down macro policies impact bottom-up economic growth. He questions the logic that spending resources could generate prosperity, stating that it's prosperity that drives spending. To move away from a theoretical discussion, Roberts uses two examples with empirical evidence: WWII and foreign aid. Both cases show that artificially inflating an economy with government spending only lasts a short while, and has minimal, if any, long-term impact. Foreign aid specifically shows that the political elite and interest groups are the ones who benefit most, at a cost to others.
When History Isn't History
Economics professor Steven Horwitz emphasizes that an accurate understanding of history is paramount in a classical liberal’s approach to change people’s minds. Public knowledge of history shapes people’s views toward policy change; but since history is often misconstrued, many support bad policies for rational (though misplaced) reasons, says Horwitz. He then uses common narratives of the New Deal and how the West got rich to explain that “at the bottom of most disagreements with classical liberalism lies a bad reading of history.” How do you stack up to the narratives Horwitz dissects?
Entrepreneurship Helps Make America Great
As a former business reporter, John Stossel has seen a great deal of what makes businesses thrive, and in this article describes how entrepreneurship is a key to America's prosperity. In America, different than many other countries, failure in business is an opportunity to start over and try again, not something to be ashamed of. In fact, the U.S. Constitution even includes several protections for entrepreneurship. However, the modern economy and business environment are not without challenges, as Stossel states that “Unfortunately, bureaucrats are threatening this good part of America.”
Stop the Federal Spending Spree
Cato budget analyst Tad DeHaven calls for action on an issue that, as he notes, has many Americans up in arms. The government has massively increased both spending and the amount of publicly held debt, to levels not seen since the end of WWII. The problem is, DeHaven remarks, that the WWII spending ended with the war but the current spending crisis is due to European-style entitlements, which will only increase over time. DeHaven states that, "at a time when citizens are warning both parties to stop their fiscally profligate ways, Republicans need to do more than just say "no."" Several congressmen have made moves in the right direction, but real leadership is needed to make real change happen.
Intern Alumni Reunion Big Success
Tom Palmer, Cato scholar and long-time liberty advocate, delivered remarks at the first ever Cato Intern Alumni Reunion, held this past weekend at the Cato Institute. Palmer interned at the Cato Institute in 1978, and performed many tasks that paved the way for the work Cato does today and many others that are now obsolete due to technological advances. On his blog he discusses the event and provides a link to his speech. Read his reminiscent speech here.
A Plague of 'A' Students
Political satirists and Cato fellow P.J. O'Rourke says that "America has made the mistake of letting the A student run things." 'A' students assume the high levels of society that change our way of life, but everybody else drives the engine of the country. (i.e. "B students work for C students — A students teach.") The problem is that the impact of top-level decisions made by elitists is not seen for decades, when negative effects have become institutionalized. So while they seem the best suited to run our society, it may just be an impression of their fine grooming and not their actual ability. With an article that is one part humor and two parts clever insight, O'Rourke serves up a message relevant to students at all levels – from ivy leagues to the school of hard knocks.
Locating Ourselves Historically: Why We Are Not Living in Western Civilization
Dr. Stephen Davies considers the narrative of 'Western Civilization' and concludes that historic Western Civilization no longer exists but has perished or been transformed. This, he argues, should make us think about how to understand our historical location and lead us to see past, present, and future in a new way.
We Miss You, Bubba
Cato executive vice president David Boaz writes that while Bill Clinton was no champion of liberty, he would be welcomed back to replace President Obama. From spending, to free trade, to regulation, to welfare, Clinton's record starkly contrasts Obama's interventionist and big-government approach. Much of this was possible because of divided government, as the Republicans held Congress for six of Clinton's eight years. All of these factors led Boaz to implore, "Come back, Bill, all is forgiven. Or most, anyway. As long as you bring a Republican Congress with you."
The 'Decade from Hell'? Not Quite.
Sure, the past decade has brought some interesting challenges into the lives of Americans everywhere, but that doesn't mean the good hasn't outweighed the bad, says Cato vice president Gene Healy. Compared to the misery of several past decades in U.S. history – including phenomena such as unemployment, 70 percent tax rates, gas lines, and inflation – the 00's have provided net gains to the American public. The Internet alone has extensively contributed to better quality of life, greater efficiency in work, and supported the exercise of the First Amendment. Healy notes that history runs in cycles, and that the hard times of the 60's and 70's ended when "Americans corrected their course," adding that "the years to come will give us plenty of incentive to put America on the right path again."
What's Wrong with Socialism?
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, which comes at a time when many in the world are celebrating the ideals of socialism. Paul Hollander, who escaped across the Wall in 1956, writes about how many Americans do not have a clear understanding of communism, and tend focus on the "noble intentions" rather than the harsh realities. He explains that "humans motivated by lofty ideals are capable of inflicting great suffering with a clear conscience." Hollander’s words come at a pivotal time when good intentions are shaping lasting policies.
Obama, the Omni-President?
Gene Healy, Cato VP and author of 'Cult of the Presidency,' addresses the issue of President Obama's recent and expansive extension of executive power into practically everything, from auto companies to late night television appearances, Olympic committee hearings to reforming college football. Although not the only president to expand the bounds of the job description, Healy notes that, "Obama has forged new frontiers in triviality. He's the president of all things great and small: He calls for "a cure for cancer in our time" while also promising to stand behind the warranty on your new Ford Fusion." Considering Obama's be-everywhere tendency mixed with his recent failures and challenges, Healy warns that "a man who is everywhere, promising to do everything, may end up accomplishing very little, and he's sure to disappoint."
Video: What is a Libertarian?
Cato executive VP David Boaz appears on the McCuistion show to discuss what it means to be a libertarian. They talk about the principles of libertarianism that are in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Among many other topics, they also discuss absolute free trade and the conflict between big government, the Federal Reserve and free markets. This 30 minute video provides a solid foundation of Libertarianism, for the avid free-marketer or anyone just curious.
Higgs Takes NYT, Progressives to Task
Robert Higgs, editor of the Independent Review, challenges the leftist sensibilities espoused in a New York Times article, which bemoans the decline of European socialism and decries capitalism and its supposed misdeeds. Not only critiquing the article's biased language, Higgs also provides historical examples to refute its author's claims. He makes the call, "God save us from outrageously overbearing and intolerably impudent, yet tiresomely ignorant and analytically challenged, progressive news media."
March on 9/12 Shows the Right on the Rise
While the crowd of 75,000+ (some estimates are much higher) that descended on the Capitol in Washington, D.C. on 9/12 had many specific aims in their protests, in his weekly column in the Washington Examiner, Cato VP Gene Healy saw this common thread: that the conservative Right is not dead. He added that their message "remains a vital part of the national conversation." Although the Right has its own inconsistencies, and leaves much to be desired, they demonstrate a distrust of big government and some warmth for a libertarian's cold heart. Healy concludes, "That rising distrust of big government — of which Saturday's march was the most vivid recent example — shows this much at least: 'The death of conservatism' has been greatly exaggerated."
Hey, Mr. President, Leave Those Kids Alone
In his weekly Washington Examiner column, Cato VP Gene Healy calls for a back-peddling of Presidential involvement, particularly in our schools. President Obama is scheduled to address school children nationwide on September 8th to, with the help of lesson plans from the Dept. of Education, "inspire" kids to serve their fellow classmates, their future, and their elected officials - which Healy views not only as partisan, but an over-step of power. "The framers thought of the president as a mere constitutional officer, whose main job is taking care that the laws are faithfully executed. Students -- and presidents -- could stand to learn a lot more about how far we've drifted from that ideal."
Ted Kennedy and the Death (Hopefully) of an Era
Nick Gillespie, at Reason, comments on the life of Ted Kennedy. He explains that although Kennedy was highly effective in passing legislation over his nine terms in the Senate, it was legislation reminiscent of a worldview no longer held by many Americans, and for good reason. He does, however, note several major benefits brought on by the Senator's work. Gillespie explains that, “Because they do not fit the Ted Kennedy narrative preferred by his admirers and detractors alike, these accomplishments rarely get mentioned in stories about the late senator. But they are exactly the sort of legislation that we should be celebrating in his honor, and using as a model in today's debates..."
Why Orwell Matters
From 'Animal Farm' to '1984' to 'Shooting an Elephant', George Orwell has become known as both provocative and influential. Economist Russ Roberts and author Christopher Hitchens discuss George Orwell on EconTalk. Hitchens comments on the experiences that formed Orwell's perspective and development of his life's work, while simultaneously describing Orwell's effect on the realms of society and politics. Along the way, Hitchens makes the case for why Orwell matters.
Staying Sane When You are the President
In his weekly newspaper column, Cato VP Gene Healy writes about the tendency of American presidents to feel a little "larger than life." From LBJ, to Nixon, to Bush, and even Obama, Healy remarks that "modern presidents... live in an atmosphere that can make even the most well-adjusted personalities intoxicated with power."
King George III: Obama-esque?
Cato scholar David Boaz succinctly lists many examples of the current administration's tendency toward excessive and business-retarding tax policies. He contrasts the opressive attack on American's back pockets with the historical declaration announced by our nation's founders 233 years ago, quoting the Declaration: "He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance." Strangely familiar? You decide.
Activist and Warrior Presidents Dominate Historians' Polls
By Gene Healy: "Asked how his presidency will be remembered, Bush typically insisted that "history" will be the judge. He's right — and right as well that historians may be kinder to him than his abysmal approval ratings would suggest. But that says less about Bush's success than it does about the perverse standards by which historians evaluate presidents."
Gene Healy on the Presidency
In this video Cato VP Gene Healy discusses the growth of the imperial presidency.
A Little Credit History. Or, Credit where Credit Is Due
By Jason Kuznicki: "The problem wasn't capitalism. It was simply this: Capitalism for thee, but not for me. The word of the day is corporatism, and since the days of the South Sea Company, we've never really been without it. Corporations have always used their power to try to win favors from the government, while leaving all the rest of us still subject to the vicissitudes of the market. That's the essence of corporatism."
Banished: 'The Forsaken' by Tim Tzouliadis
Reviewed by Richard Pipes: "Most of these expatriates, not intellectuals but simple working men, were quickly disenchanted and wanted to return home, only to find that Moscow considered them Soviet citizens and barred them from leaving. Ignored by the American government, many of them ended in the gulag."
Crying Wolf: Are we all fascists now?
By Michael C. Moynihan: "To anyone that has attended a political demonstration, trawled a blog, or attended a Western university in the past half century, the scattershot use of 'fascist' will ring familiar. And almost as clichéd as accusing an ideological opponent of fascist sympathies is the accurate observation that such charges often demonstrate an utter lack of understanding of just what qualifies as fascist, other than 'someone I vehemently disagree with.'"
The Klein Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Polemics
By Johan Norberg: "To make her case, Klein exaggerates the free-market reforms that take place in times of crisis, often by ignoring central events and rewriting chronologies. She uses loose metaphors and wild distortions to claim that free markets are a form of violence. She confuses libertarianism with corporatism and neoconservatism and blames Milton Friedman for encouraging reform by stealth. To do so, she engages in one of the most malevolent distortions of a thinker that has been done in a major work in recent years."
Narcissists With Nukes
By Shawn Macomber: "Should Cato Institute Senior Editor Gene Healy's wonderfully informative, perception shifting examination of the wayward American executive, The Cult of the Presidency, receive the attention it so richly deserves, however, it may serve as a perfect literary tonic for our historical and cultural amnesia. Perhaps Healy, armed with a persuasive, good-natured outrage, will even inspire some among us toward a more narrow definition of presidential virtuousness and, by extension, broaden the conception of our own."
Everyone in Favor, Say Yargh!
By Joanna Weiss: "Long before they made their way into the workings of modern government, the democratic tenets we hold so dear were used to great effect on pirate ships. Checks and balances. Social insurance. Freedom of expression. So Leeson, an economics professor at George Mason University, will argue in his upcoming book, The Invisible Hook: The Hidden Economics of Pirates."
Bernstein on the History of Trade
"William Bernstein talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the history of trade. Drawing on the insights from his recent book, A Splendid Exchange: How Trade Shaped the World, Bernstein talks about the magic of spices, how trade in sugar explain why Jews ended up in Manhattan, the real political economy of the Boston Tea Party and the demise of the Corn Laws in England."
Inventing Alexander Hamilton: The troubling embrace of the founder of American finance
By William Hogeland: "Now, a Hamilton revival is not only under way but an accomplished fact. Wrestling anew with Hamilton’s contributions to national politics and economics could be both fascinating and worthwhile. But Neo-Hamiltonians, like the latter-day Jeffersonians of the ’30s and ’40s, have been eagerly chopping up the past to make it conform to their political aims."
Taking Marriage Private
By Stephanie Coontz: "Why do people — gay or straight — need the state’s permission to marry? For most of Western history, they didn’t, because marriage was a private contract between two families. The parents’ agreement to the match, not the approval of church or state, was what confirmed its validity."
The Lie About Where Che Lies
By Alvaro Vargas Llosa: "It is not surprising, of course, that Che Guevara's remains are a myth. Everything about this modern saint is a myth -- his love of justice, his romantic disposition, his goodness."
History of Religion
How has the geography of religion evolved over the centuries, and where has it sparked wars? This map gives you a brief history of the world's most well-known religions: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism. Selected periods of inter-religious bloodshed are also highlighted. Want to see 5,000 years of religion in 90 seconds? Ready, Set, Go!
The Question of Monopolies
By Nathaniel Branden. A reader asks "In a society of laissez-faire capitalism, what would prevent the formation of powerful monopolies able to gain control over the entire economy?"
What FDR Had In Common With the Other Charismatic Collectivists of the 30s
By David Boaz: "When economic crisis hit — in Italy and Germany after World War I, in the United States with the Great Depression — the anti-liberals seized the opportunity, arguing that the market had failed and that the time for bold experimentation had arrived."
Alexis de Tocqueville
A site about the life and work of Alexis de Tocqueville, one of the great modern political thinkers and an inspiration to classical liberals ever since. This site gives detailed biographical information as well as images and text in English and in French.
Petraeus, the Surge & History
"Many have repeated the claim that Iraq is Vietnam all over again. History never repeats itself exactly, so no example is perfect. But the American surge in Iraq bears a striking and little-noted resemblance to the Germans' ill-fated offensive in the last year of World War I."
The History of Economic Thought Website
This web site serves as a repository of collected links and information on the history of economic thought, from the ancient times until the modern day. It is designed for students and the general public, who are interested in learning about economics from a historical perspective.
The Tradition of Spontaneous Order
By Norman Barry: It is not that the theory of spontaneous order precludes planning as such; it is that only planning by individuals in decentralized markets will tend towards an optimal use of knowledge. The central planner has only that knowledge available to him, which is less than that which is co-ordinated among all the agents in a market process. Furthermore, because the future is unknowable, a system that relies on liberty allows for the accidental and spontaneous.
Libertarianism: A Primer
David Boaz presents the essential guidebook to the libertarian perspective, detailing its roots, central tenets, solutions to contemporary policy dilemmas, and future in American politics. He confronts head-on the tough questions frequently posed to libertarians: What about inequality? Who protects the environment? What ties people together if they are essentially self interested? A concluding section, "Are you a Libertarian?" gives readers a chance to explore the substance of their own beliefs. Libertarianism is must reading for understanding one of the most exciting and hopeful movements of our time.
'Knowing' Industrial Pollution: Nuisance Law and the Power of Tradition in a Time of Rapid Economic Change, 1840 – 1864
Experience shows that Common Law and Private Property Rights can be an alternative to top-down regulation on air pollution. In this essay, Christine Meisner Rosen examines nuisance law "from the perspective of an environmental historian who is interested in how people made sense of industrial pollution problems in the past."
The Common Law: How it protects the environment
"The purpose of this PERC Policy Series paper is to show, by examining specific cases in American and English history, that strong legal traditions enabled ordinary citizens to protect their air, land, and water, often against politically potent parties."