Dr. Scott Young: The US 1861-1865 Banking Crisis
Dr. Scott Young: The US 1861-1865 Banking Crisis
10-7-2025
We often think we know American history, especially pivotal moments like the Civil War. But what if there’s a crucial, often overlooked, layer to the story – one woven deeply into the very fabric of our financial system?
Dr. Scott Young is here to peel back those layers in his new four-part series, introducing us to a fascinating and complex era he aptly terms “pre-fed banking.”
This isn’t just about dusty ledgers; it’s about understanding the financial and political dynamics that shaped a nation. Dr. Young’s inaugural episode dives headfirst into the period from the Civil War era through 1913, asserting that to truly grasp the monumental conflict, we must examine more than just the moral imperative against slavery.
While the moral abomination of slavery was undeniably a central conflict, Dr. Young encourages us to look deeper, to the intricate web of economic and banking interests that fueled the divide.
He highlights how banking crises, fragmented currency systems, and the very nature of collateral created a precarious financial landscape, particularly in the South.
Imagine a financial system where a significant portion of your capital, and thus your ability to secure loans, is tied to human beings. In the South, this was the stark reality.
Plantations and enslaved people served as primary collateral, creating a fragile and ethically bankrupt economic backbone. This contrasted sharply with the North’s burgeoning industrial and banking strength, a system built on diversified assets and commercial enterprises.
This fundamental economic divergence, Dr. Young argues, played a far greater role in escalating tensions than commonly acknowledged.
These actions weren’t just wartime necessities; they were foundational shifts that led to long-term consequences for American financial sovereignty and the power of the federal government.
Perhaps one of the most profound, yet subtle, shifts Dr. Young highlights is the metamorphosis of the American identity itself. Before the Civil War, it was common to hear “the United States are,” implying a coalition of independent states. Post-war, it emphatically became “the United States is,” reflecting a fundamental transformation from a confederation of states to a singular, national entity with a strong central government – a shift solidified by the very banking and financial structures put in place.
Dr. Scott Young’s initial installment is a powerful reminder that history is rarely as simple as it seems. By coining the term “pre-fed banking,” he invites us to explore a crucial chapter in American economic history, one that profoundly influenced the Civil War and set the stage for the federal banking developments and complex corporate formations to come.
This is just the beginning of a fascinating four-part series that promises to unpack the long-term consequences and the evolution of American financial sovereignty right up to the establishment of the Federal Reserve.
Ready to dive deeper into this untold history?
https://dinarchronicles.com/2025/10/07/dr-scott-young-the-us-1861-1865-banking-crisis/