The History of American Banking

  • Cant Agree

    Cant Agree
    The nation has no reliable medium of exchange. Federalists and Antifederalists disagree about a banking system.
  • First Bank

    First Bank
    The first Bank of the United States is established. It was granted a twenty year charter , or license to operate. It succeeded in bringing order and stability to American Banking.
  • Second Bank

    Second Bank
    The second bank of the United States reestablishes stability.
  • Period: to

    Free Banking Era

    President Jackson vetoes recharter of Second Bank in 1832, giving rise to free banking era.
  • Vetoed

    Vetoed
    President Jackson vetoed the Bank of the United States in 1832.
  • Gold Rush

    Gold Rush
    Gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill in California, marking the start of the Gold Rush.
  • Currency

    Currency
    In 1861, the United States Treasury issued its first paper currency since the Continental. The official name of the currency was "demand notes," but they were called "greenbacks" because they were printed with green ink.
  • Paper Currency

    Paper Currency
    The first United States paper currency was produced by the Treasury Department
  • National Banking Acts

    National Banking Acts
    The National Banking Acts of 1863 and 1864 required banks to hold enough gold and silver reserves to cover their bank notes.
  • First Time Clock

    First Time Clock
    The first time clock for a vault was created in 1874.
  • President Grant

    President Grant
    President Grant vetoes a bill passed by Congress validating the issuance of greenbacks.
  • Gold

    Gold
    Gold becomes the basis of the U.S. Monetary System.
  • Federal Reserve System

    Federal Reserve System
    Passed in late 1913, the Federal Resaerve Act established the Federal Reserve System. This served as the nations first true central bank, or babk that can lend to other banks in time of need.
  • WWI

    WWI
    World War One begins.
  • Income Tax

    Income Tax
    During World War I, the top rate of the income tax rose to 77 percent
  • Great Depression

    Great Depression
    The severe economic decline that lasted for more than a decade.This resulted in the closing of thousands of banks across America.
  • New Paper Currency

    New Paper Currency
    The new paper currency, only two thirds the size of the old, goes into circulation.
  • Bank Holiday

    Bank Holiday
    President Roosevelt declared a national "bank holiday" and closed the nationa's banks. Within a matter of days, sound banks began to reopen.
  • WW2

    WW2
    World War Two Begins.
  • Bombing

    Bombing
    The bombing of Pearl Harbor
  • In God We Trust

    In God We Trust
    The first currency bearing the motto " In God We Trust" was delivered by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
  • Savings Bonds

    Savings Bonds
    The processing of United States Savings Bonds was first done by computer.
  • Credit Card

    Credit Card
    The credit card was first formed in 1959. The very first credit card was the Bank Americard.
  • Dow Jones

    Dow Jones
    The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 508 points, marking the worst one-day collapse in history.