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Description
Professor Skinner tells the story of the delay in publishing the 'Wealth of Nations' and the probable reason for this delay - the constantly changing situation in the American Colonies.
Professor Skinner tells the story of the delay in publishing the 'Wealth of Nations' and the probable reason for this delay - the constantly changing situation in the American Colonies.
| Module code and title: | A204, The Enlightenment |
|---|---|
| Item code: | A204; 27 |
| Recording date: | 1980-03-04 |
| First transmission date: | 26-08-1980 |
| Published: | 1980 |
| Rights Statement: | Rights owned or controlled by The Open University |
| Restrictions on use: | This material can be used in accordance with The Open University conditions of use. A link to the conditions can be found at the bottom of all OUDA web pages. |
| Duration: | 00:16:55 |
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| Producer: | Tony Coe |
| Contributors: | William Russell; Andrew Skinner |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | Wealth of Nations |
| Footage description: | Professor Skinner tells the story of the delay in publishing the 'Wealth of Nations' and the probable reason for this delay - the constantly changing situation in the American Colonies, (The book was published in 1776 - the year of the American Declaration of Independance). Smith had foreseen that the rapid expansion of the American economy would ultimately mean a rejection of the restrictions on American manufacturing which it had suited the British to impose. In 1778 Smith wrote a memorandum to the then Solicitor-General as a solution to the American problem, a full union like that between England and Scotland, In this memorandum, he explores various other options, including that of returning Canada to France and the two Florida to Spain in order to make the remaining parts of North America look to Britain as an ally against the French and Spanish, Smith recognised, however, that the least desirable solution was also the most likely - that Britain would be left all the expense of defending Canada and lose the advantageous colonial connection with America. |
| Master spool number: | TLN10950H937 |
| Production number: | TLN10950H937 |
| Available to public: | no |
