登陆注册
5259600000008

第8章 CHAPTER II. TRADE AND INDUSTRY(3)

The business depression which very naturally followed the short revival of trade was so serious in its financial consequences that it has even been referred to as the "Panic of 1785." The United States afforded a good market for imported articles in 1788 and 1784, all the better because of the supply of gold and silver which had been sent into the country by England and France to maintain their armies and fleets and which had remained in the United States. But this influx of imported goods was one of the chief factors in causing the depression of 1785, as it brought ruin to many of those domestic industries which had sprung up in the days of nonintercourse or which had been stimulated by the artificial protection of the war.

To make matters worse, the currency was in a confused condition.

"In 1784 the entire coin of the land, except coppers, was the product of foreign mints. English guineas, crowns, shillings and pence were still paid over the counters of shops and taverns, and with them were mingled many French and Spanish and some German coins . . . . The value of the gold pieces expressed in dollars was pretty much the same the country over. But the dollar and the silver pieces regarded as fractions of a dollar had no less than five different values."* The importation of foreign goods was fast draining the hard money out of the country. In an effort to relieve the situation but with the result of making it much worse, several of the States began to issue paper money; and this was in addition to the enormous quantities of paper which had been printed during the Revolution and which was now worth but a small fraction of its face value.

* McMaster, "History of the People of the United States", vol. I, pp. 190-191.

The expanding currency and consequent depreciation in the value of money had immediately resulted in a corresponding rise of prices, which for a while the States attempted to control. But in 1778 Congress threw up its hands in despair and voted that "all limitations of prices of gold and silver be taken off," although the States for some time longer continued to endeavor to regulate prices by legislation.* The fluctuating value of the currency increased the opportunities for speculation which war conditions invariably offer, and "immense fortunes were suddenly accumulated." A new financial group rose into prominence composed largely of those who were not accustomed to the use of money and who were consequently inclined to spend it recklessly and extravagantly.

* W. E. H. Lecky, "The American Revolution," New York, 1898, pp.

288-294.

Many contemporaries comment upon these things, of whom Brissot de Warville may be taken as an example, although he did not visit the United States until 1788:

"The inhabitants . . . prefer the splendor of wealth and the show of enjoyment to the simplicity of manners and the pure pleasures which result from it. If there is a town on the American continent where the English luxury displays its follies, it is New York. You will find here the English fashions: in the dress of the women you will see the most brilliant silks, gauzes, hats, and borrowed hair; equipages are rare, but they are elegant; the men have more simplicity in their dress; they disdain gewgaws, but they take their revenge in the luxury of the table; luxury forms already a class of men very dangerous to society; I mean bachelors; the expense of women causes matrimony to be dreaded by men. Tea forms, as in England, the basis of parties of pleasure; many things are dearer here than in France; a hairdresser asks twenty shilling a month; washing costs four shillings a dozen."*

* Quoted by Henry Tuckerman, "America and her Commentators,"

1886.

An American writer of a later date, looking back upon his earlier years, was impressed by this same extravagance, and his testimony may well be used to strengthen the impression which it is the purpose of the present narrative to convey:

"The French and British armies circulated immense sums of money in gold and silver coin, which had the effect of driving out of circulation the wretched paper currency which had till then prevailed. Immense quantities of British and French goods were soon imported: our people imbibed a taste for foreign fashions and luxury; and in the course of two or three years, from the close of the war, such an entire change had taken place in the habits and manners of our inhabitants, that it almost appeared as if we had suddenly become a different nation. The staid and sober habits of our ancestors, with their plain home-manufactured clothing, were suddenly laid aside, and European goods of fine quality adopted in their stead. Fine rues, powdered heads, silks and scarlets, decorated the men; while the most costly silks, satins, chintzes, calicoes, muslins, etc., etc., decorated our females. Nor was their diet less expensive; for superb plate, foreign spirits, wines, etc., etc., sparkled on the sideboards of many farmers. The natural result of this change of the habits and customs of the people--this aping of European manners and morals, was to suddenly drain our country of its circulating specie; and as a necessary consequence, the people ran in debt, times became difficult, and money hard to raise.*

* Samuel Kercheval, "History of the Valley of Virginia," 1833, pp. 199-200.

The situation was serious, and yet it was not as dangerous or even as critical as it has generally been represented, because the fundamental bases of American prosperity were untouched. The way by which Americans could meet the emergency and recover from the hard times was fairly evident first to economize, and then to find new outlets for their industrial energies. But the process of adjustment was slow and painful. There were not a few persons in the United States who were even disposed to regret that Americans were not safely under British protection and prospering with Great Britain, instead of suffering in political isolation.

同类推荐
  • 佛说普门品经

    佛说普门品经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

    Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • ABC's of Science

    ABC's of Science

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 教观纲宗释义

    教观纲宗释义

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 第十二夜

    第十二夜

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 爱情心理学

    爱情心理学

    健康的爱情心理仿佛是爱情的坚固小舟,经得起风吹浪打。现实生活中许多人爱情的失意,婚烟的失败,虽然有各种外在的原因,但在很大程度上由于缺乏健全的爱情心理。只有不断培养健康向上的心理素质,爱情才能完善。
  • 易道天书

    易道天书

    买半打啤酒居然送了本修行的天书?这不叫运气,而叫命运!从买酒的那天起,毕业不久的青年杨林森,便从此踏上了追逐远方的道路。可是,远方有什么呢?事业?金钱?美女?权力?不!这些绝不会成为他的目标,因为它们只不过是迈向远方时,沿途连绵不绝的风景罢了……如果你在找一个幽默、感动、励志、热血,还充满了人生感悟的故事……没错,请点开它,让我们一同进入那真实而奇幻的世界吧!
  • 大佬竞技场

    大佬竞技场

    李欢穿越到大佬林立的竞技场世界。神话、时间规划局、火影忍者、狂暴巨兽、毒液、暮光之城、大剑、EVA、死神……诸天万界,各显神通。见识过许多大佬,他也想当大佬了。已有百万字完结作品《穿越诸天的怪兽》。群号:181891402
  • 中国文化外宣研究

    中国文化外宣研究

    本书就文化对外宣传的作用、战略意义等方面进行了系统的论述,并从对外传播和国际交流的大背景出发,对中国文化外宣的基本情况进行了全面的总结与分析.对文化外宣的理论学说、传播规律以及中国文化外宣的发展历程、各种当代形态等内容进行深入剖析和考察。此外.本书还比较和借鉴了其他国家文化外宣的经验和发展策略,在此基础上提出了进一步发展我国文化外宣的对策和建议。
  • 音乐篮球手

    音乐篮球手

    一位酷爱篮球的少年意外得到一个篮球,此篮球是音乐之神曾经的用过的篮球,每当音乐响起,篮球就会放出灵魂来附身这个少年的身上。ps:已经有完本小说《灌篮奇才》,人品有保证,欢迎各位兄弟姐妹们收藏。
  • 武逆凰妃

    武逆凰妃

    当21世纪叱咤风云的佣兵女王,转眼成为恶名昭著的纨绔千金,当强者之魂,霸气重生!金簪抵着男人的脖子,“敢碰我,我要你命!”嚣张,是有资本,狂妄,是够强大,不可一世,乃是天纵奇才。她要夺回属于这个名字的一切,重塑昔日辉煌,搅翻异世,走出一条青云大道;终有一日,站在云霄,俯瞰人间,傲视漫天诸神,告诉他们,墨风华不需要任何同情,因为我就是神迹!冷眼睥睨,看尽人间魑魅魍魉,素手轻覆,操纵凡世生离死别——且看风华无双,冠绝天下!
  • 孟婆汤无毒

    孟婆汤无毒

    我与他相知数十年,彼此守望相助,患难与共,人生路上的风风雨雨,由于两人同心协力,总能抵御过去,可是最后与病魔死神一搏,我们全力以赴,却一败涂地。白先勇【树犹如此】
  • 童年的秘密

    童年的秘密

    本书详尽地告诉父母,儿童的成长有着其内在的精神驱动和规律,儿童的成长需要依靠他们自身不断的有意识的、自主的、独立的与外界环境进行活动(书中称为工作)来获得。成人如果想促进儿童成长,最重要的是给他们创造一个充满爱的安全的环境,尊重并理解孩子的行为,对他们的行为尽量做最少的限制和“指导”。儿童自然会知道自己想做什么,该如何做。在一次又一次的探索中,他会逐渐成长起来。童年是人类生存的根基,儿童是“成人之父”,只有发现和解放儿童,我们才能拥有更好的未来。
  • 一世盛欢:侯门庶女

    一世盛欢:侯门庶女

    左手掌人过去,右手握人未来。她本想低调做个小小庶女,用用小天赋,混点小钱,过过日子,嫁个相爱相守的夫君就满足了。怎奈天赋被人妒,她一心为他,他却利用完了就随意丢弃!下一世,哪怕知道你是我的命定,我也要逆命而行,不再嫁你!誓言犹响耳畔,再一睁眼便是未嫁时!她重生,不再是从前乖巧任人欺的小庶女主母嫡妹伪善相待,她就抢先一步恶言相向!她是带着外挂重生女主,不是路人甲乙丙!想豢养她在则,也要看有没有那命!对她不利,请献上脑袋!人道,无毒不丈夫。她言,不毒非女子!众生待她不义,休要怪她不仁!
  • 清及不知寒

    清及不知寒

    《宠妻成瘾:腹黑大神带我飞》的番外短篇,给顾清寒另一个完美的结局