The Money Men: Capitalism, Democracy, and the Hundred Years' War Over the American Dollar (Enterprise)An "insightful" (Publishers Weekly) history of the development of American capitalism and the men who made it great. Most Americans are familiar with the political history of the United States, but there is another history woven all through it, a largely forgotten history—the story of the money men. Acclaimed historian H. W. Brands brings them back to life: J. P. Morgan, who stabilized a foundering U.S. Treasury in 1907; Alexander Hamilton, who founded the first national bank, and Nicholas Biddle, under whose directorship it failed; Jay Cooke, who helped to finance the Union war effort through his then-innovative strategy of selling bonds to ordinary Americans; and Jay Gould, who tried to corner the market on gold in 1869 and as a result brought about Black Friday and fled for his life. |
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LibraryThing Review
User Review - jefware - LibraryThingShines a clear light on the people behind the war between capitalism and the populists. Made me appreciate Hamilton. Read full review
THE MONEY MEN: Capitalism, Democracy, and the Hundred Years' War Over the American Dollar
User Review - KirkusA lively and accessible history of a once-dominant issue in American life.The Federal Reserve Act of 1913, which governs US monetary policy, was a compromise solution to a long and fierce brawl ... Read full review
Contents
| 15 | |
The Bank War | 57 |
The Bonds of Union | 97 |
The Great Gold Conspiracy | 131 |
The Transit of Jupiter | 159 |
The Money Answer | 199 |
For Further Reading | 217 |
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Common terms and phrases
Adams Alexander Hamilton American Andrew Jackson Bank’s bankers Boutwell Bray Hammond British brokers Bryan bulls campaign capital capitalists central charter Chase Clay Cleveland Coin Congress Constitution Cooke’s Corbin Correspondence of Biddle country’s currency Daniel Butterfield debt declared democracy democrats didn’t dollars economy election Erie Erie War ernment farmers favor federal government Federalists Fisk five-twenties gold and silver gold standard government’s Grant greenbacks H. W. Brands House ibid interest investors issues J. P. Morgan Jay Cooke Jay Gould Jefferson knew Madison ment million money question money supply national bank never Nicholas Biddle notes Oberholtzer panic paper party Philadelphia politics president proposed purchase railroad Republicans Ron Chernow Roosevelt sell Senate sold specie speculators thought tion told took trade Treasury secretary U.S. Steel Union United Untermyer veto vote Wall Street wanted Washington wrote York
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Money Men: Capitalism, Democracy, and the Hundred Years' War Over the American Dollar (Enterprise) |
| Author | H. W. Brands |
| Publisher | W. W. Norton & Company, 2010 |
| ISBN | 0393340503, 9780393340501 |
| Length | 240 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |