UNIVERSIDAD SERGIO ARBOLEDA ESCUELA DE ECONOMÍA HISTORIA DEL PENSAMIENT O ECONÓMICO JAVIER DELGADO PEREZ

Bogotá August 6th 2012

Reference: Williams, W.A (1958). An interpretation of the American political economy, 1763 to 1828.

Brief reference to the author:

William Appleman Williams (1921-1990), an influential American historian and writer, was a member of the faculty of history at Oregon State University from 1,968 to 1,986. He is considered one of the founders of the "revisionist school" of American diplomatic history. A prolific author, Williams, The contours of American history (1961), was appointed by the Modern Library, one of the 100 best nonfiction books written in English in the twentieth century. Williams's papers consist of correspondence, newspaper clippings, books, photographs and memories.

Central approach:

The movement of mercantilism evolved into the American political economy in a similar way as happened in Great Britain. first wanted to become an empire that Benjamin Franklin visualize which included Canada, Florida and the West Indies. with the expansion of the empire, would create a "world view shared by most of the revolutionary generation."

There was  an agreement that the state intervened in the economy and should be used as a tool, everyone thought that the surplus would lead to crisis and failure, so dropped the old feudal laws against exports and replaced by taxes on imports. so that the development towards a stable and strong government emerged from the national and international problems discussed and resolved with mercantilist ideals.