Free Ships: The Restoration of the American Carrying Trade

"Free Ships: The Restoration of the American Carrying Trade" by John Codman is a historical account written in the late 19th century. This work addresses the decline of the American carrying trade and critiques the restrictive navigation laws that Codman argues hindered the growth of American shipbuilding and ownership. The author offers a detailed examination of the political and economic factors that contributed to this decline and advocates for the repeal of these laws in favor of a more open and competitive market. In this book, Codman passionately argues that the protectionist policies established to support American shipbuilders have ultimately led to the detriment of the American maritime commerce. He illustrates how these laws not only failed to achieve their intended purpose but also forced American shipowners to rely on foreign vessels for trade. Codman provides a comprehensive analysis of the failures of previous government investigations into American commerce and blames both negligence and manipulation by shipbuilders for the loss of American shipping dominance. Through rigorous examples and historical references, he makes a compelling case for transitioning to a model that embraces free trade to revitalize the decimated American carrying trade.