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Banking in the U.S. before the Fed.

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nibbler491 posted on Sat, Jan 24 2009 11:44 PM

I was having a discussion with a Keynesian(an actual Keynesian who believes in free markets, demand-side, etc.), and we were talking about the Fed, and I explained the ABCT and how the fed actually created the business cycle. He didn't really have a rebuttal to the logic I used to prove that the fed caused booms/busts, but he kept saying, "We already tried having no fed and it didn't work," and I don't really know how to respond to that. Any suggestions?

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It worked better than the fed ever did.

Where I come from, the women don't glow, but the men definitely plunder. 

 

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it didnt work?

so between 1776 and 1913 America was just...not existing as a society?

The Founding Fathers were strongly opposed to the formation of a central banking system - the fact that England tried to place the colonies under the monetary control of the Bank of England is seen by many as the 'last straw' of English oppression and that it led directly to the War of Independence.

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Juan replied on Sun, Jan 25 2009 12:01 AM
"We already tried having no fed and it didn't work,"
Well, you should point out that absent a central bank, fractional reserve banks can still cause problems. Eventually, enough competition would solve those problems, but historically the process was never allowed to fully ran its course.

You can get more historical data here
The Myth of Free Banking in Scotland
and here
Separation of Bank and State -- United States Bank, (1834)

edit : in a word, there were other central banks in the US before the fed. Here's a wiki article which may be good but I suppose somebody else can provided better sources. The Legget book I linked does cover part of the 19th century.

February 17 - 1600 - Giordano Bruno is burnt alive by the catholic church.
Aquinas : "much more reason is there for heretics, as soon as they are convicted of heresy, to be not only excommunicated but even put to death."

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Suggested by Mark B.

nibbler491:

I was having a discussion with a Keynesian(an actual Keynesian who believes in free markets, demand-side, etc.), and we were talking about the Fed, and I explained the ABCT and how the fed actually created the business cycle. He didn't really have a rebuttal to the logic I used to prove that the fed caused booms/busts, but he kept saying, "We already tried having no fed and it didn't work," and I don't really know how to respond to that. Any suggestions?

We have had periods of central banks/quasi central banks, particularly the First and Second Banks of the United States.  Throughout, however, we have had free banking, but never 100% reserve banking.  Free banking along with government paper issues, led to most of the turmoil of the 1800's.  I would refer to Rothbard's numerous works on the subject of money and banking.  In particular, try "The Panic of 1819:  Reactions and Policies" by Rothbard.  It would be good to get a handle on just how the process of a "panic" unfolds.

If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home and leave us in peace. We seek not your council, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.
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nazgulnarsil:
The Founding Fathers were strongly opposed to the formation of a central banking system

Then why did they create two of it?

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