Episode Details

How did America get its banks? How was the American financial system created? How has it evolved over the last 250 years to become the largest economy in the world? This episode seeks to answer these questions by exploring the economic history of the U.S. This episode primarily focuses on Alexander Hamilton and President Andrew Jackson. These two historical figures had immense influence over the American economy and financial system in the early years of the country. The battle between Federalists and Anti-Federalists; between people that wanted a Central Bank versus those that wanted a decentralized banking system was central to how the early banking system evolved. This episode examined an article from Bank Director titled “250 Years Later: How America Got its Banks.” A link to the article is included below.  

Link: 250 Years Later: How America Got Its Banks | Bank Director

Books recommended in this episode: Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow, Robert Morris by Charles Rappleye, The Banker Who Made America by Richard Vague, and Nicholas Biddle by Thomas Payne Govan (this book is no longer in print and can be hard to find).