The First Bank of the United States and the Securities Market Crash of 1792
DAVID J. COWEN a1 a1 director at Deutsche Bank where he is employed as a foreign currency trader. Home address: Anthony Wayne Road, Morristown, NJ 07960. E-mail: cabanal@aol.com.
In 1791 the $10 million capitalization of the First Bank of the United States was vastly greater than the combined capital of all other banks. The Bank had an enormous impact on the economy within two months of opening its doors for business by flooding the market with its discounts and banknotes and then sharply reversing course and curtailing liquidity. Although the added liquidity initially helped push a rising securities market higher, the subsequent drain caused the first U.S. securities-market crash by forcing speculators to sell their stocks. Several reasons are analyzed for the Bank's credit restriction.
The tendency of a national bank is to increase public and private credit. The former gives power to the state for the protection of its rights and interests, and the latter facilitates and extends the operations of commerce among individuals. Industry is increased, commodities are multiplied, agriculture and manufacturesflourish, and herein consists the true wealth and prosperity of a state.
