The Money Men: Capitalism, Democracy, and the Hundred Years' War Over the American Dollar (Enterprise)W. W. Norton & Company, 2010 M11 1 - 240 pages 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. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 30
Page 16
... democrats demanded that the people control the money supply, to preserve and extend equal- ity. Money was too important to everyday lives to be left to self- interested capitalists. The capitalists countered that managing money was a ...
... democrats demanded that the people control the money supply, to preserve and extend equal- ity. Money was too important to everyday lives to be left to self- interested capitalists. The capitalists countered that managing money was a ...
Page 17
... democrats. But Americans had difficulty keeping their identities straight, with the result that policies and attitudes toward money careened wildly. Capitalism charted the course for a time, then democracy, then capitalism, then ...
... democrats. But Americans had difficulty keeping their identities straight, with the result that policies and attitudes toward money careened wildly. Capitalism charted the course for a time, then democracy, then capitalism, then ...
Page 34
... democratic plan,” he declared. Hamilton went so far as to recommend the British monarchy as a model. “See the excellency of the British executive”—which was to say, the king. “He is placed above temptation. He can have no dis- tinct ...
... democratic plan,” he declared. Hamilton went so far as to recommend the British monarchy as a model. “See the excellency of the British executive”—which was to say, the king. “He is placed above temptation. He can have no dis- tinct ...
Page 36
... democratic spirit is apt to make on property , " and the " creditors of the United States " who desired a government “ able to pay the debt of the Union . ” Yet against each of Hamilton's groups was arrayed another group likely to ...
... democratic spirit is apt to make on property , " and the " creditors of the United States " who desired a government “ able to pay the debt of the Union . ” Yet against each of Hamilton's groups was arrayed another group likely to ...
Page 39
You have reached your viewing limit for this book.
You have reached your viewing limit for this book.
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 |
Notes | 207 |
For Further Reading | 217 |
Index | 223 |
Other editions - View all
The Money Men: Capitalism, Democracy, and the Hundred Years' War Over the ... H. W. Brands No preview available - 2007 |
Common terms and phrases
Adams Alexander Hamilton Andrew Jackson Bank’s bankers Biddle’s Boutwell Bray Hammond British brokers Bryan bulls campaign capital capitalists central charter Chase Clay Cleveland Coin Congress Constitution Cooke’s Corbin Correspondence of Biddle currency Daniel Butterfield debt declared democracy democrats dollars election Erie Erie War ernment farmers favor federal government Federalists fight Fisk five-twenties gold and silver gold standard Grant greenbacks H. W. Brands Hamilton Henry 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