Question

Congress passed legislation to create the Federal Reserve System in 1913 in order to A. end the instability created by a huge crude oil price hike during that time. B. end the instability created by a savings and loan fiasco that occurred during that time. C. end the instability created by bank panics by acting as a lender of last resort. D. take the monetary control over the economy away from the Treasury Department.

Answer 1

The Federal Reserve System was basically set up to stabilize prices and price hikes. As an individual who was working at that time and I earned a certain amount but 2 years later dairy prices increased for example 5%, and wages stayed the same, that would cause me to get scared and fearful of other price hikes and the interest I was earning on the money in my bank didn’t change or possibly went down and I started to loose money I would panic and go grab my cash thus creating a run on the banks and an unstable banking system, economic growth is pressured so widespread panic happened and I believe a few times and of course caused banks to close and fail or come close in the early 20th century, before the Fed was created and signed under Woodrow Wilson who himself was an isolationist. Stability is key! Also USA relied on banks that would invest cash on our own country bonds. Where was the steady supply of cash? There was none. Causing the economy to fail. Basically the Fed was a system of failing banks that were tied together being bailed out by Wallstreet financiers working with the Government and Secretary of treasury came up with plans and similar agreements arose with similar failing banks but not insolvent banks or trusts agreeing to insure even its weaker banks/members. It stretched across the country governed by a national board of directors who set interest rates and controlled credit. It also as it evolved had the ability to regulate and supervise banking activities. Also the Fed would make sure that banks could keep up with changes in the demand for currency. To make sure commercial paper was available and lend if needed. Believe me it gets to confusing for me beyond this but these are the basic facts I am aware of. Even the issuing of paper money based on???