Overview
What happens when the government raises taxes on foreign goods? Who benefits, and who pays the price? This video explores the real-world consequences of tariffs through personal stories and economic analysis, challenging students to think critically about trade, protectionism, and unintended consequences.

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Grade level and subjects
• Recommended for grades 6-12
• Subjects: Government, Economics, and Business
• Works in Classroom, Hybrid, and Homeschool settings

What students will learn
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
• identify the definition of and intended purpose of a tariff;
• explain how tariffs affect consumers, producers, and international trade;
• evaluate historical and modern examples of tariffs to determine their effectiveness; and
• construct arguments about the economic and ethical implications of tariffs using evidence from the video.

Key concepts and terms covered
Free Trade, Retaliation, Tariff, and Trade War.

Sample discussion questions
• What is a tariff?
• Why can't some products, like champagne, simply be made in America?
• Who ultimately pays for tariffs imposed on imported goods?
• Can you think of better ways for countries to resolve trade disputes rather than using tariffs?
• How could voluntary cooperation and peaceful trade lead to more mutual benefit than protectionist policies?

What’s in the free teacher’s guide
This printable 17-page Teacher's Guide includes a lesson description, learning objectives, key vocabulary, a fill-in viewing guide with answer key, discussion and analysis questions, classroom activities, and the full video transcript.

Standards alignment
Aligned to state standards — use the SITC Standards Tool to match this video to the standards in your state.