The Newberg Crisis

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In 1783, Robert Morris and Alexander Hamilton were trying to get a tax on imports passed. The idea was to use it as a wedge for other taxes that would fund the bondholding class. They got into trouble when they tried to pass an import tax in Philadelphia. In response, some officers of the Continental Army threatened not to lay down their arms unless they received pay.

Astra Taylor interviews William Hogeland on his book Founding Finance: How Debt, Speculation, Foreclosures, Protests, and Crackdowns Made Us a Nation. Hogeland recovers a fascinating crop of mostly-forgotten rebels, the movements they led, and their radical demands that put the landlords and lenders of their day on edge. He also recounts the complex and sometimes deadly machinations that went into suppressing them in order to create a nation that was safe for the owning and investing classes. Support The Dig at Patreon.com/TheDig