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THOMAS BENTON: Bank of the United States
$15.00 USD
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THOMAS BENTON: Bank of the United States
$15.00 USD
Old stock, some shelf wear. Edited from pages 187 to 205, Volume 1 of original.
Thomas Hart Benton (1782–1858) was a U.S. Senator from Missouri and a leading opponent of the Second Bank of the United States, championing hard money (gold/silver) over paper currency and aligning with Andrew Jackson to dismantle the institution in the 1830s. Known as "Old Bullion," he argued the bank favored the wealthy, empowered elitist directors like Nicholas Biddle, and harmed small farmers and Westerners.
Key details of Benton's involvement in the "Bank War":
- Opposition to the Bank: Benton was a fierce critic in the Senate, leading the fight against rechartering the Bank of the United States in 1832, arguing it made "the rich richer and the poor poorer".
- Support for Jackson: He was a crucial ally of President Andrew Jackson, strongly defending Jackson's 1832 veto of the bank's charter and the subsequent removal of federal deposits.
- "Old Bullion": Advocating for a specie-based economy (gold and silver) rather than paper money issued by the bank, he earned the nickname "Old Bullion".
- Expunging the Censure: After the Senate censured Jackson for removing funds from the bank, Benton worked for three years to pass a resolution to "expunge" the censure from the Senate Journal.
- Literary Work: Benton detailed his opposition to the bank in his memoir-history, Thirty Years' View.
Book Details
- Author
- Thomas H. Benton
- Page Count
- 73
- Edition
- 1954 reprint of 1854
- Cover Type
- Paperback
- Weight
- 17 oz