Virtual Poster Session: Global Studies & Maritime Affairs Senior Thesis 2020

The Jones Act formerly known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 kickstarted a critical decline in the U.S. shipbuilding industry while also protecting what is in place today. Throughout this research paper qualitative and quantitative data are rigorously analyzed to uphold this thesis. The data presented comes from: government organizations, NGO’s, international organizations, case studies from the industry, national security statements, economic analysis, as well as legislative analysis from scholars at institutions including independent scholars. This act has economically preserved the domestic shipbuilding industry. The act has cited national security of the U.S. as well. Over the last century the impacts of the act have been seen nationwide and have started the decline of the once thriving maritime industry after world war two while being the most central preservation U.S. code today. This analysis shows the implications of the Jones Act specifically showing how this legislation has affected the U.S.