A History of the Demonetization of Silver surveys a pivotal chapter in United States money and politics, tracing how silver’s status as money was challenged and changed over time.
From early coinage decisions to 19th‑century debates in Congress, the book pieces together the laws, arguments, and economic logic behind monetary policy and the shifting value of silver.
Through historical documents and close analysis, it explains how legal tender, coin standards, and government debt shaped the fate of silver as currency. The narrative centers on legislative action in the 1860s and 1870s, the push and pushback around silver coinage, and the broader context of gold, coinage, and public finance in the United States.
- Learn how different acts and proposals affected the status of silver in U.S. money.
- See key debates about legal tender, coinage standards, and public debt financing.
- Explore a timeline from early minting decisions to 19th‑century silver policy shifts.
- Understand how these monetary choices impacted debtors, creditors, and the public.
Ideal for readers interested in financial history, constitutional money, and the long arc of monetary policy in America.