Lecture series · recorded 2006
The Economic History of the United States
The Economic History of the United States is a free lecture series (9 recordings, 6 hours) you can stream or download at freecapitalists.org, with Mark Thornton.
This course was presented by Mises Institute senior fellow Mark Thornton in 2006.
U.S. EconomyU.S. HistoryWar and Foreign PolicyGlobal EconomyMoney and Banks
Cover painting: Sons of Liberty dump East India Company tea into Boston Harbor from Griffin's Wharf, December 1773. See every painting in the art gallery.
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01
29:43 Download MP3
Why Should We Study History, In the First Place? 2006
The study of U.S. history seen through the lens of economic theory teaches us lessons like: (1) Why did America do so well economically?, (2) Why do we have the problems of war, terrorism, and immigration?, (3) What results from the growth of government?, ...
Philosophy and MethodologyU.S. EconomyU.S. History
Read the transcript 3,324 words
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02
45:15 Download MP3
Exploration: The Finding, Founding, and Discovery of the New World 2006
Why did people move to the new world? The benefits outweighed the costs. The explorers were driven by the economic philosophy of mercantilism. Government and business partnered to build a nation state. Money was thought to be wealth, but it is not. Government ships, soldiers, and subsidies gave the power of kings behind businesses.
Read the transcript 4,354 words
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03
47:28 Download MP3
Immigration 2006
The Spanish and Portuguese were not very effective about colonizing the New World, despite finding gold and silver and claiming land. The London Company arrived about 1611 with indentured servants. Life expectancy was as young as twenty-one, although food supplies were better in the New World. Land was cheap and available to most immigrants.
U.S. HistoryWar and Foreign Policy
Read the transcript 4,853 words
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04
44:47 Download MP3
The Colonial Economy 2006
The private property method of settlement was more successful than the public method. But, moving people to the new world was difficult while life in Europe was better. Thus, indentured servants were a large group second only to religious refugees.
Read the transcript 4,469 words
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05
36:36 Download MP3
International Trade 2006
International trade routes revealed comparative advantages of the different shippers, whether New England or British. Merchants dealt with shippers with whom they had a history. Knowing market conditions was easier for local merchants. Crews were paid less in their home ports.
Value and ExchangeGlobal EconomyU.S. Economy
Read the transcript 3,613 words
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06
45:31 Download MP3
Inflation in Colonial America 2006
Colonial governments tried to manipulate the Spanish peso when they couldn't control the commodity monies. They increased the supply of pesos (inflation) and encouraged exports. Prices increased until the process was banned.
Money and BanksU.S. EconomyU.S. History
Read the transcript 4,362 words
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07
26:34 Download MP3
The American Revolution: Part 1 2006
Salutary neglect of the colonies spurred innovation and abundance in a spirit of freedom. Bitterness crept into the relationship after the French and Indian War when the British kept colonialists out of certain territories and began taxing them internally and increased tariffs.
U.S. EconomyU.S. HistoryWar and Foreign Policy
Read the transcript 3,061 words
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08
35:47 Download MP3
The American Revolution: Part 2 2006
The Virginia Resolves said Virginia citizens should not obey the Stamp Acts. Intimidation of the tax collectors effectively nullified the Act. Colonialists felt that the Crown had violated their relationship. The Intolerable Acts were the final straw. They stated their grievances in the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
U.S. EconomyU.S. HistoryWar and Foreign Policy
Read the transcript 3,359 words
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09
49:09 Download MP3
The American Revolution: Part 3 2006
The Americans successfully used the different tactic guerilla warfare against the staid and rigid British soldiers. War caused a large increase in the paper money supply - the Continental - triggering hyperinflation and loss of purchasing power.
U.S. EconomyU.S. HistoryWar and Foreign Policy
Read the transcript 4,430 words
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Recording dates, summaries and topics for 9 of these 9 lectures come from the Mises Institute's page for The Economic History of the United States, checked 2026-08-04.
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About this series
- Is The Economic History of the United States free to listen to?
- Yes. All 9 mirrored recordings stream in the browser or download as audio, at no cost and with no signup.
- How long is The Economic History of the United States?
- 9 recordings, 6 hours in total.
- Who lectures in The Economic History of the United States?
- Mark Thornton.
- When was The Economic History of the United States recorded?
- 2006, per the recording dates recovered for this series.
- Is there a transcript of The Economic History of the United States?
- Yes. Every lecture in the series has one, 35,825 words in total, free to read on each lecture's page and searchable in the browser.
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