In 1914, the Federal Reserve opened its doors to stabilize the American economy

History
In 1914, the Federal Reserve opened its doors to stabilize the American economy

Following decades of financial panics and bank runs, the United States launched a centralized banking system in 1914 to provide a 'lender of last resort' and bring order to a chaotic national economy.

The Federal Reserve officially opened its doors on November 16, 1914, forever changing how money moves through the world. Before this moment, the United States lacked a central bank, leaving the economy vulnerable to frequent, devastating financial panics where banks would simply run out of cash.

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