Bills of Union: Money, Empire and Ambitions in the Mid-Eighteenth Century British Atlantic

This book explores how imperial currency and banking were managed in the British Atlantic in the mid-eighteenth century,including proposals for imperial or continental paper currencies and monetary unions. It makes an important contribution to the histories of monetary and financial thought and theory, and the roots of American monetary policy.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 144 pages
Publication date: 14 March 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This comprehensive book explores a fascinating period in British colonial history by examining over a dozen proposals for an imperial paper currency in the mid-eighteenth century. By delving into these proposals, the author aims to shed light on the management of colonial currency and banking within the expanding empire. While previous studies have focused on individual colonies' successes and failures, this book takes a broader perspective, examining the grand ambitions of some thinkers, such as Benjamin Franklin, who proposed "imperial or 'continental paper currencies and monetary unions" to foster unity among colonial territories across North America and even the Caribbean.

The book brings together these proposals for the first time, including several previously unpublished ones, allowing scholars to gain a deeper understanding of how thinkers and writers on empire, currency, and finance drew on financial practices, precedents, and principles from across the British Atlantic. This interdisciplinary approach provides valuable insights into the broader histories of monetary and financial thought and theory, as well as the roots of American monetary policy. It also explores the intricate connections between finance, empire, politics, reform, and revolution during this pivotal period.

Academics interested in the history of finance, banking, and currency in the British Isles, North America, and the Caribbean in the eighteenth century will find this book particularly valuable. It also appeals to those studying the political economy of the British Empire, including mercantilism, trade, warfare, and the politics of empire in the decades leading up to the American Revolution. By examining the various proposals for an imperial paper currency, the book offers a fresh perspective on the complex financial and political dynamics of the British Empire and its impact on the world.

In conclusion, this book is a significant contribution to the field of history, providing a comprehensive exploration of the proposals for an imperial paper currency in the mid-eighteenth century British Atlantic. By examining the ideas and influences of thinkers and writers on empire, currency, and finance, it sheds light on the complex financial and political dynamics of the British Empire and its impact on the world. It will be of interest to scholars and researchers across a range of disciplines, contributing to our understanding of the past and shaping our understanding of the present.

Weight: 214g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030676797
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021