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 34
Page 19
... trade . At the crossroads of three empires — the British , French , and Spanish - he dealt in rum and cod and bread and mules , denominated in pounds and livres and dollars , backed by gold and silver and land and promises . But there ...
... trade . At the crossroads of three empires — the British , French , and Spanish - he dealt in rum and cod and bread and mules , denominated in pounds and livres and dollars , backed by gold and silver and land and promises . But there ...
Page 24
... Trade shriveled under the British blockade , cutting the supply of specie still fur- ther . The newly independent states and the Continental Congress issued paper notes , but because nothing substantial supported most of these notes ...
... Trade shriveled under the British blockade , cutting the supply of specie still fur- ther . The newly independent states and the Continental Congress issued paper notes , but because nothing substantial supported most of these notes ...
Page 25
... trade, finance, and to the management of foreign affairs.” Finance was critical. Congress must have con- trol of “coining money, establishing banks on such terms and with such privileges as they think proper, appropriating funds and ...
... trade, finance, and to the management of foreign affairs.” Finance was critical. Congress must have con- trol of “coining money, establishing banks on such terms and with such privileges as they think proper, appropriating funds and ...
Page 31
... trade among the several states, Hamilton voiced his support. The New York assembly sent him to Annapolis, in September 1786, as part of New York's delegation. But almost no one else showed up. A less resourceful man might have let the ...
... trade among the several states, Hamilton voiced his support. The New York assembly sent him to Annapolis, in September 1786, as part of New York's delegation. But almost no one else showed up. A less resourceful man might have let the ...
Page 32
... trade (manufacturing was minuscule as yet). Agriculture employed far more people than trade, but trade was better represented in the state legislatures, on account of the deeper pockets of the merchants, their proximity to the seats of ...
... trade (manufacturing was minuscule as yet). Agriculture employed far more people than trade, but trade was better represented in the state legislatures, on account of the deeper pockets of the merchants, their proximity to the seats of ...
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