The Panic of 1837 was a crisis in financial and economic conditions in the nation following changes in the banking system initiated by President Andrew Jackson and his Specie Circular that effectively dried up credit. Other causes of the Panic of 1837 included the failure of the wheat crop, a financial crisis and depression in Great Britain that led to restrictive lending policies. President Martin Van Buren was blamed for the Panic of 1837 and proposed the system for the retaining government funds in the United States Treasury and its sub-treasuries to address the situation but met with strong opposition by the Whigs, led by Henry Clay.
