The many panics of 1837 : people, politics, and the creation of a transatlantic financial crisis

In the spring of 1837, people panicked as financial and economic uncertainty spread within and between New York, New Orleans, and London. Although the period of panic would dramatically influence political, cultural, and social history, those who panicked sought to erase from history their experiences of one of America's worst early financial crises. The Many Panics of 1837 reconstructs the period between March and May 1837 in order to make arguments about the national boundaries of history, the role of information in the economy, the personal and local nature of national and international events, the origins and dissemination of economic ideas, and most importantly, what actually happened in 1837. This riveting transatlantic cultural history, based on archival research on two continents, reveals how people transformed their experiences of financial crisis into the "Panic of 1837," a single event that would serve as a turning point in American history and an early inspiration for business cycle theory In The Spring Of 1837, People Panicked As Financial And Economic Uncertainty Spread Within And Between New York, New Orleans And London. Although The Period Of Panic Would Dramatically Influence Political, Cultural And Social History, Those Who Panicked Sought To Erase From History Their Experiences Of One Of America's Worst Early Financial Crises. The Many Panics Of 1837 Reconstructs This Period In Order To Make Arguments About The National Boundaries Of History, The Role Of Information In The Economy, The Personal And Local Nature Of National And International Events, The Origins And Dissemination Of Economic Ideas, And Most Importantly, What Actually Happened In 1837. This Riveting Transatlantic Cultural History, Based On Archival Research On Two Continents, Reveals How People Transformed Their Experiences Of Financial Crisis Into The 'panic Of 1837', A Single Event That Would Serve As A Turning Point In American History And An Early Inspiration For Business Cycle Theory-- Introduction: The Many Panics Of 1837 -- 1. A Very Gamblous Affair -- 2. The Pressure Of 1836 -- 3. Practical Economists -- 4. Mysterious Whispers -- 5. The Many Panics In 1837 -- 6. Parallel Crises -- 7. States Of Suspense -- Epilogue: Panic-less Panics Of 1837. Jessica M. Lepler, University Of New Hampshire. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "In the spring of 1837, people panicked as financial and economic uncertainty spread within and between New York, New Orleans and London. Although the period of panic would dramatically influence political, cultural and social history, those who panicked sought to erase from history their experiences of one of America's worst early financial crises. The Many Panics of 1837 reconstructs this period in order to make arguments about the national boundaries of history, the role of information in the economy, the personal and local nature of national and international events, the origins and dissemination of economic ideas, and most importantly, what actually happened in 1837. This riveting transatlantic cultural history, based on archival research on two continents, reveals how people transformed their experiences of financial crisis into the 'Panic of 1837', a single event that would serve as a turning point in American history and an early inspiration for business cycle theory"-- Provided by publisher Cover 1 Contents 9 List of Figures 10 Acknowledgments 11 Abbreviations 17 Introduction The Many Panics of 1837 21 Chapter 1 A Very “Gamblous” Affair 28 Chapter 2 The Pressure of 1836 63 Chapter 3 Practical Economists 87 Chapter 4 Mysterious Whispers 114 Chapter 5 The Many Panics in 1837 143 Chapter 6 Parallel Crises 177 Chapter 7 States of Suspense 211 Epilogue Panic-less Panics of 1837 255 Notes 275 Introduction 275 Chapter 1 276 Chapter 2 287 Chapter 3 294 Chapter 4 302 Chapter 5 308 Chapter 6 315 Chapter 7 323 Epilogue 335 Index 345