Catalogue Number
NMLH.1994.168.332
Object Name
Poster
Title
Tariff Wall
Date
1910
Description
Tariff Wall, poster published by the Imperial Tarriff Committee, around 1910.
The poster shows Uncle Sam towering over a brick wall labelled "Tariff Wall" holding a sack labelled "Made by American Workmen American Goods for England". Behind the wall is John Bull, holding a bag labelled "British Goods".
Uncle Sam says "No thank 'ye John, don't want any. It would cost you a bit to bring your little lot in here. Besides I've got a sack-full of goods to send you free, see!" to which John Bull replies: "Well if that is your game Jonathan, hang me if I don't go home again and build up a tariff wall myself".
The poster was printed by the Tariff Reform League, a protectionist pressure group who advocated for imperial preference and protested against what they saw as unfair foreign imports. The League wanted the British Empire to be a single trading bloc, and to impose duties of imports which would be used to duel social reforms.
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