Lecture series · recorded 2006
Liberty and American Civilization
Liberty and American Civilization is a free lecture series (20 recordings, 22.8 hours) you can stream or download at freecapitalists.org, with Thomas J. DiLorenzo.
Sponsored by Steven Berger, this ten-lecture course features Thomas J. DiLorenzo, who presents an examination of key events in American History through the lens of classical liberalism.
U.S. HistoryWar and Foreign PolicyLegal SystemThe FedTaxes and SpendingCorporate WelfareBooms and Busts
Cover painting: Union soldiers with lanterns arrest John Merryman at his farmhouse door, Cockeysville, Maryland, 1861. See every painting in the art gallery.
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01
1:35:03 Download MP3
Lincoln's Tariff War 2006
There exists a vitriolic Lincoln Cult who cannot countenance that Lincoln might have been motivated by money and power in engaging in the Tariff dispute which began in 1824.
U.S. HistoryWar and Foreign Policy
Read the transcript 14,160 words
- 02 Download MP4
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03
51:55 Download MP3
Abraham Lincoln and the Triumph of Mercantilism in America 2006
Alexander Hamilton wanted the colonies to be just like Britain, but without a king. He pushed mercantilism in America by arguing that public debt was positive and central banking was necessary.
InterventionismU.S. History
Read the transcript 7,652 words
- 04 Download MP4
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05
1:34:35 Download MP3
Lincoln vs. the Constitution 2006
There is no provision in the US Constitution allowing for a dictator. Yet, Lincoln was one. He suspended habeas corpus. Any disagreement with Lincoln was treated as treason. Political prisoners were everywhere, including the mayor of Baltimore.
Read the transcript 14,109 words
- 06 Download MP4
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07
56:41 Download MP3
The Classical Liberal States' Rights Tradition 2006
States’ Rights have been ignored or misrepresented. Thomas Jefferson was an originator of States’ Rights. Citizens of a state ought to have sovereignty – dual sovereignty. Government was merely to protect the lives, liberty and property of citizens.
Political TheoryU.S. History
Read the transcript 8,194 words
- 08 Download MP4
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09
1:18:56 Download MP3
The Revolution of 1913 2006
In 1913, economics and liberty collided when the Federal Reserve Bank was created, the 15th Amendment created the income tax, and the 17th Amendment instituted direct election of Senators.
The FedTaxes and SpendingU.S. History
Read the transcript 11,797 words
- 10 Download MP4
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11
59:45 Download MP3
Protectionist Origins of Antitrust 2006
The myth of antitrust, the myth of the New Deal and labor union myths are three economic fallacies. All three declare that government must save capitalism from itself.
InterventionismCorporate WelfareU.S. History
Read the transcript 9,003 words
- 12 Download MP4
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13
1:06:14 Download MP3
The Myth of Natural Monopoly 2006
This second myth about market failure is again a call for interventionism and support for bigger government. Natural monopolies don’t exist. The theory was made up after the fact. The only monopolies existing are those propped up by government privilege.
InterventionismCorporate WelfareU.S. History
Read the transcript 9,910 words
- 14 Download MP4
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15
1:13:03 Download MP3
Labor Market Superstitions 2006
There are labor market myths and there are labor union myths. The biggest myth is that capitalists always exploit the working class. Basic economics about marginal productivity theory contradicts this. Examples abound in all areas.
InterventionismU.S. History
Read the transcript 10,812 words
- 16 Download MP4
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17
1:04:31 Download MP3
The Truth about the Great Depression 2006
The interventionist myth is that Federal meddling in domestic or foreign economics can make anything better. Instead, meddling produced the American Great Depression. Doing nothing with a depression in 1920 produced resolution within eighteen months. Nobody hears of the depression of 1920-21.
Read the transcript 9,119 words
- 18 Download MP4
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19
37:44 Download MP3
Is Voluntary Government Possible? 2006
Walter Block and Tom DiLorenzo have looked at Constitutional Economics, and determined that politics are not just another market. There is only a curious analogy to the public choice approach. Social contract theory has been used as an excuse for all types of state intervention.
Political TheoryU.S. History
Read the transcript 5,158 words
- 20 Download MP4
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Recording dates, summaries and topics for 20 of these 20 lectures come from the Mises Institute's page for Liberty and American Civilization, checked 2026-09-28.
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About this series
- Is Liberty and American Civilization free to listen to?
- Yes. All 20 mirrored recordings stream in the browser or download as video and audio, at no cost and with no signup.
- How long is Liberty and American Civilization?
- 20 recordings, 22.8 hours in total.
- Who lectures in Liberty and American Civilization?
- Thomas J. DiLorenzo.
- When was Liberty and American Civilization recorded?
- 2006, per the recording dates recovered for this series.
- Is there a transcript of Liberty and American Civilization?
- Yes. 10 of the 20 mirrored recordings have one, 99,914 words in total, free to read on each lecture's page and searchable in the browser.
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