Sharon Murphy, a professor of early American financial history, dives into the foundational years of the U.S. economy. She explores the fierce clash between President Andrew Jackson and Bank of the United States president Nicholas Biddle, shedding light on their opposing views of economic power. The discussion also reveals the chaotic landscape of early American currency, illustrating the shift from countless forms of money to the introduction of a standardized dollar during the Civil War, and why economic panics continue to haunt us today.
