Journey to the Jones ACT: U.S. Merchant Marine Policy 1776-1920

The "Jones Act" is the most newsworthy U.S. maritime policy law.Most of the attention is focused on the preservation of U.S. domestic maritime trade. Some is focused on the law as a means for mariners to recover for injuries.But this attention is too narrow. The "Jones Act" was originally understood to mean the whole of the 1920 Merchant Marine Act, which deals with far more than domestic maritime trade and mariner injuries. The 1920 Act was the culmination of U.S. merchant marine policies inherited from England and adapted over time by the United States starting in 1776.This merchant marine policy history is American history with the well-known, like James Madison, and the obscure, like Senator Wesley Livsey Jones, playing their parts. And it is relevant history because the U.S. merchant marine has always been an essential component of U.S. national defense and the economic conditions that made sustaining a U.S. merchant marine on the high seas difficult are the same today as they were in 1920.Charlie Papavizas captures a rich history from the early 17th century English Navigation Acts to the Constitutional Convention, where slavery and maritime policy were connected, to the Civil War, where the U.S. merchant marine suffered a catastrophic decline, to the decades of failed revival efforts, and finally to the building of a great merchant fleet of vessels in World War I and the plan to make permanent America's place in the maritime world with that fleet-which was the Jones Act.

About the Author :
Charlie Papavizas is an accomplished national maritime lawyer at Winston & Strawn LLP, where he has practiced as a partner since 1995. He is recognized as a "Jones Act" expert and has published widely on how it applies today. Charlie grew up in the Washington, D.C., area where he still lives and practices law. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgetown University, a Masters of International Affairs degree from Columbia University, and a Juris Doctor degree from George Washington University.

Review :
"While many freely toss around the term "Jones Act," and cite it as the catalyst for decline of the US Merchant Marine, few understand the true origins and evolution of our Nation's domestic Maritime policy - culminating in the 100+ year old Merchant Marine Act of 1920. Charlie Papavizas takes us back to decisions that our Founding Fathers made concerning maritime trade and skillfully walks us through every change of course as our young nation burst upon the international scene in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. Rich with detail, Papavizas has produced a book that tells the story of America's emergence as a maritime power, and the reasons why we have so vigorously maintained control over our domestic trade. Your understanding of US Maritime policy is incomplete until you read this superb volume." -Hon. Mark H. 'Buz' Buzby, RADM, USN (Ret), Former Administrator, US Maritime Administration "A crucial read for anyone looking to demystify a law woven into the fabric of American life. it unravels the complexities of the Jones Act, making its history and impact accessible to all. This book brilliantly captures how the Act resonates beyond legal circles into the heart of American commerce and defense, influencing the very currents of trade, industry, and daily life in the United States. As an offshore wind sector advocate, I found this book to be an insightful journey through the intricacies of the Jones Act, shedding light on its historical significance and its modern-day applications. It is a must-read for anyone who seeks to grasp how deeply maritime policy is anchored in our nation's past and present, and how it continues to shape the flow of goods, services, and economic opportunities." -Liz Burdock, President and CEO, Oceantic Network "Meticulously researched and eminently readable, Journey to the Jones Act is a fascinating history of American maritime policy and the people, politics, and events that shaped it over two and a half centuries. Charlie Papavizas's mastery of his subject matter is on full display... not only readers new to the "Jones Act," but longtime students and practitioners of maritime policy will find themselves saying, "I didn't know that!" again and again throughout this informative and entertaining read." -Jennifer Carpenter, President & CEO, The American Waterways Operators, President, American Maritime Partnership