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War, Wine, and Taxes: The Political Economy of Anglo-French Trade, 1689–1900 (The Princeton Economic History of the Western World, 20)

Name: War, Wine, and Taxes: The Political Economy of Anglo-French Trade, 1689–1900 (The Princeton Economic History of the Western World, 20)
Price: 35.00 USD
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5.0 of 5 Stars: International - War, Wine, and Taxes: The Political Economy of Anglo-French Trade, 1689–1900 (The Princeton Economic History of the Western World, 20)

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Book Synopsis: In War, Wine, and Taxes, John Nye debunks the myth that Britain was a free-trade nation during and after the industrial revolution, by revealing how the British used tariffs—notably on French wine—as a mercantilist tool to politically weaken France and to respond to pressure from local brewers and others. The book reveals that Britain did not transform smoothly from a mercantilist state in the eighteenth century to a bastion of free trade in the late nineteenth.

This boldly revisionist account gives the first satisfactory explanation of Britain's transformation from a minor power to the dominant nation in Europe. It also shows how Britain and France negotiated the critical trade treaty of 1860 that opened wide the European markets in the decades before World War I. Going back to the seventeenth century and examining the peculiar history of Anglo-French military and commercial rivalry, Nye helps us understand why the British drink beer not wine, why the Portuguese sold liquor almost exclusively to Britain, and how liberal, eighteenth-century Britain managed to raise taxes at an unprecedented rate—with government revenues growing five times faster than the gross national product.

War, Wine, and Taxes stands in stark contrast to standard interpretations of the role tariffs played in the economic development of Britain and France, and sheds valuable new light on the joint role of commercial and fiscal policy in the rise of the modern state.

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Discover the hidden truth about Britain's economic history in War, Wine, and Taxes: The Political Economy of Anglo-French Trade, 1689–1900. This groundbreaking book by John Nye exposes the myth of Britain as a champion of free trade, revealing the strategic use of tariffs, particularly on French wine, to weaken France and protect local industries. Gain a fresh perspective on Britain's journey from a minor power to a dominant nation in Europe.

With its bold and revisionist account, War, Wine, and Taxes challenges conventional wisdom surrounding Britain's transformation. Delve into the seventeenth-century rivalry between Britain and France, exploring how it shaped their military and commercial interactions. Understand why beer, not wine, became the drink of choice for the British, and why Portugal catered almost exclusively to Britain's liquor demands.

War, Wine, and Taxes goes beyond the surface and uncovers the true driving forces behind Britain's economic growth. Explore the fascinating link between fiscal policy and the rise of the modern state, as eighteenth-century Britain managed to raise taxes at an unprecedented rate. Witness government revenues growing five times faster than the gross national product, providing a rich understanding of how commercial and fiscal policies shaped the nation's destiny.

Don't miss out on this eye-opening exploration of Britain's economic history. Order your copy of War, Wine, and Taxes: The Political Economy of Anglo-French Trade, 1689–1900 today and discover the untold story of the nation's ascent to dominance in Europe.

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