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
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Page 15
... tion raised subsidiary questions . How much money shall there be ? Who ought to control it ? To what ends ? The money question has been a puzzle for every society since the first ancient hit on the idea of employing proxies — seashells ...
... tion raised subsidiary questions . How much money shall there be ? Who ought to control it ? To what ends ? The money question has been a puzzle for every society since the first ancient hit on the idea of employing proxies — seashells ...
Page 17
... tion and concluded, correctly, that in a fundamental sense Americans were all capitalists and all democrats. But Americans had difficulty keeping their identities straight, with the result that policies and attitudes toward money ...
... tion and concluded, correctly, that in a fundamental sense Americans were all capitalists and all democrats. But Americans had difficulty keeping their identities straight, with the result that policies and attitudes toward money ...
Page 31
... tion of the Federal Government adequate to the exigencies of the Union.” The convention would be held in Philadelphia beginning in May 1787. HAMILTON WENT ON to say that any changes to the Articles devised at Philadelphia would be ...
... tion of the Federal Government adequate to the exigencies of the Union.” The convention would be held in Philadelphia beginning in May 1787. HAMILTON WENT ON to say that any changes to the Articles devised at Philadelphia would be ...
Page 33
... tion . The governor of Massachusetts , James Bowdoin , warned that the rebellion could produce the “ most fatal and pernicious consequences , " including " universal riot , anarchy , and confusion , which would probably terminate in ...
... tion . The governor of Massachusetts , James Bowdoin , warned that the rebellion could produce the “ most fatal and pernicious consequences , " including " universal riot , anarchy , and confusion , which would probably terminate in ...
Page 34
H. W. Brands. tion by population and specifying election of the executive by the legislature. The Madison—or Virginia ... tion. When Benjamin Franklin suggested opening each session with a prayer requesting divine guidance, Hamilton ...
H. W. Brands. tion by population and specifying election of the executive by the legislature. The Madison—or Virginia ... tion. When Benjamin Franklin suggested opening each session with a prayer requesting divine guidance, Hamilton ...
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