What happened during the Panic of 1837?

The Panic of 1837 was a financial crisis in the United States that began a major depression (not to be confused with the Great Depression ), which lasted until the mid-1840s. Profits, prices, and wages dropped, westward expansion was stalled, unemployment rose, and pessimism abounded. The panic had both domestic and foreign origins.

What caused the financial crisis of 1837?

The lack of a central bank to regulate fiscal matters, which President Andrew Jackson had ensured by not extending the charter of the Second Bank of the United States, was also key. The ailing economy of early 1837 led investors to panic, and a bank run ensued, giving the crisis its name.

How did the Panic of 1837 affect banking and monetary policy?

The Panic of 1837 brought about changes in banking and monetary policy. President Martin Van Buren (1837 – 1841) moved to establish an independent U.S. treasury system in 1840 to hold and disburse government funds. Though initially defeated, the federal system became permanent in 1846.