Civil War - Business and Economy

Pre-Statehood Era: 1700-1818

• Pre-Statehood Era- Government
• Pre-Statehood Era- Society and Culture
• Pre-Statehood Era- Business and Economy
• Pre-Statehood Era- Race Relations

Early Statehood: 1818-1861

• Early Statehood- Government
• Early Statehood- Society and Culture
• Early Statehood- Business and Economy
• Early Statehood- Race Relations

Civil War Era: 1861-1865

• Civil War- Government
• Civil War- Society and Culture
• Civil War- Business and Economy
• Civil War- Race Relations

Late 19th Century: 1866-1900

• Late 19th Century- Government
• Late 19th Century- Society and Culture
• Late 19th Century- Business and Economics
• Late 19th Century- Race Relations

Early 20th Century: 1900-1914

• Early 20th Century- Government
• Early 20th Century- Society and Culture
• Early 20th Century- Business and Economy
• Early 20th Century- Race Relations

World War I: 1914-1918

• World War I- Government
• World War I- Society and Culture
• World War I- Business and Economy
• World War I- Race Relations

Roaring Twenties: 1918-1929

• Roaring Twenties- Government
• Roaring Twenties- Society and Culture
• Roaring Twenties- Business and Economy

Great Depression: 1930-1941

• Great Depression- Government
• Great Depression- Society and Culture
• Great Depression- Business and Economy
• Great Depression- Race Relations

World War II: 1941-1945

• World War II- Government
• World War II- Society and Culture
• World War II- Business and Economy
• World War II- Race Relations

Cold War Era: 1946-1991

• Cold War Era- Government
• Cold War Era- Race Relations

Millennium: 1991-Present

• Millennium- Government
• Millennium- Race Relations

Lesson Plans

• Lesson Plans
• Discussion Questions
• Historic Literature
• Civilian Conservation Corps

Resources

• About Us
• Links
• Citing the Source

Banks and Economy

Albert H. Tracy v. The Board of Supervisors of Shelby County, January 1861 / Transcription

• This document serves as evidence of how rural areas pursued economic development through internal improvements in the nineteenth century. Counties, (and other units of local government), sold bonds, thus raising funds to purchase railroad stock. This stock served as an investment opportunity for the county, and lured the railroad to build tracks in the county. Individuals who purchased the bonds were guaranteed a certain rate of return from the county bond. Albert Tracy sued the Shelby County Board of Supervisors when they did not pay him the interest due on the bonds he purchased, which had allowed Shelby County to invest in the stock of the Terre Haute and Alton Railroad Company.

• Citation: I/B/Box 5 Shelby County Board of Supervisors 1861 (43) Number 123. IRAD in Booth Library at Eastern Illinois University.

An Act to amend the General Banking Law, in such a manner as to afford greater security to the public, February 14th, 1861

• This law established comprehensive banking reform over six sections. Primarily, it affirmed that the stocks of the State of Illinois should be used as security for circulating notes to be issued upon.

• Citation: Public Laws of the State of Illinois Passed by the Twenty-Second General Assembly, Convened January 7, 1861. Springfield: Bailhache & Baker, Printers, 1861. 39-52.

An Act to Establish a General System of Banking upon a Specie Basis, in the State of Illinois, February 20th, 1861

• This law established the Union Bank of Illinois for a term of twenty-five years.

• Citation: Public Laws of the State of Illinois Passed by the Twenty-Second General Assembly, Convened January 7, 1861. Springfield, IL: Bailhache & Baker, Printers, 1861. 53-71.

Banks and Currency, Journal of the Convention, 1862

• Illinois constitutional convention members were hostile to banks and prohibited the incorporation of new banking powers. Further, issues of notes were restricted to not less than $10 in denomination. Members asserted that paper money had driven out a like amount of specie, the banking system had broken down completely, gold and silver are the best basis of currency, and Union patriotism demanded support of a stable currency. For additional background information, consult George William Dowrie, The Development of Banking in Illinois, 1817-1863.

• Citation: Journal of the Constitutional Convention of the State of Illinois Convened at Springfield, January 7, 1862. Springfield, IL: Charles H. Lanphier, Printer, 1862. 1049-1050.

Transportation

Canals and River Ways

Communication from the Mayor Concerning the Flow of the Chicago River, December 30th, 1862 / Transcription

• This document discusses a contract submitted to the mayor to the canal committee to reverse the flow of the Chicago River to ease pollutants.

• Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Early Chicago, 1833-1871 A Selection of City Council Proceedings Files. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1999. Document 41. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 11/19/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/early_chicago/doc41.html