History of the United States II / Unit 5 USH2 0613 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Gold, Silver and the Crime of 1873
Captions available
The idea
In eighteen seventy-three Congress made no provision for continuing the silver dollar, leaving gold as the single standard of value.
In practice
Farmers calling it the crime of eighteen seventy-three.
Where people slip
Less money in circulation meant falling prices for crops and heavier real burdens for debtors. Farmers wanted silver coined again to expand the money supply.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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