U.S. Political Economic History

Updated 10/19/18  See Free Economics Books

 
 


Prelude: Political Economy Basics

Capitalism

Our Democratic Federalist Capitalist Republic

 

 
 


Presidential Elections
1778-1824
1828-1852
1856-1892

1896-1928
1932-1972
1976-2012

U.S. Political Era
1788 to 1892
1896 to 2016 

Rigged? Past Election
 Sowed-Doubt and
Nearly Led to Violence

 

 

 Building America's Democratic
Federalist Capitalistic Republic

The Early Colonial Period

"We the People"
determines Political Power


Increasing We" of "We the People"

Thomas Jefferson
 Leader of the Opposition


Building a Constitutional

Capitalistic Democracy
Profitable Government
  

 


Presidential Courage
Brave Leaders
Changed America 1789-1989
 
By Michael Beschloss

G. Washington
created Executive Privilege
See George Washington 
Do You Want a Revolution? 
The Revolution 1774-76  
Source

J. Adams
 
avoided War with France

which cost him reelection.

See John Adams
Leader of the Opposition
The Master of Monticello  

A. Jackson
 took on Eastern Oligarchs
 to serve rural America.
See Andrew Jackson  
Constitution to Manifest Destiny

A. Lincoln
required freeing the slaves
to save the Union.

See Abraham Lincoln

T. Roosevelt
 
took on monopoly trusts
to protect, farms, consumers
See T. Roosevelt,
TR Continues Manifest Destiny
War With Spain,

FDR
unpopular war planning
elected for terms 3 and 4
See F. Roosevelt
 Great Depression
 Safety Net Deficits

HT
 quickly recognize Israel
with pressure from all sides
See H. Truman
First Cold War President

JFK
 pushed school integration
 
despite political pressures.
See John F. Kennedy
 
JFK Avoids Vietnam

RR
  hastened end of Cold War
 
with massive deficit spending.
See Ronald Reagan
 
Ends an Evil Empire
  Federal Deficit Increases.

Political Economy Summaries

 

 

Post WW2 History

U.S. Normality Changes
7 Competitive Adjustments
 1945-2015

Rising Income

Increased Foreign Competition
Began 1970's Wage Stagnation

1980's Less Financial Regulation,
 Slow Wage Growth

U.S. Financial Bailouts and
Economic Recovery

Poverty Stuck at 15% Since 1984

Profit Growth Beats Wage Growth
 in New Century

Wellbeing Continuing Growing

 
 
 

Specific Topics

History of U.S. Economic Growth 1p
Brief History of U S Banking Problems 3p
Brief History of American Unions
2p
U.S. Economic History Since 1900
3p
20th Century Decade Evaluation 10p
Recent Decades Ranked by Problems 2p
The Cost of 20th Centur
Great Recession 1p or  3p
Wage Growth Analysis 1p under construction
Epilogue 
International Economic Competitive Adjustment
and the New Normal
1p

y Wars 1p
Most Severe Recessions 2p
Political Economy Book Summaries  >1 p each