Financial panics such as these occurred frequently during the 1800s and early 1900s. One of the most serious bank panics occurred in 1907. The large number of bank failures and the subsequent loss of savings prompted cries for reform. People wanted a Trading for Beginners central banking authority to ensure the operation of healthy banks that might otherwise fail because of a bank panic and to supervise bank activities so banks would not engage in unsound business practices that might lead to more bank failures. The public also wanted a more elastic currency and an improved payments system, which would contribute to economic stability.

Creating the Fed. In response, Congress set up the National Monetary Commission to study the nations financial system and pinpoint its weaknesses. One of the primary weaknesses identified was that the United States lacked an elastic currency. This meant the banking system did not have a way to supply currency if demand for it increased significantly in a short time, so panics occurred. In 1912, the commission presented Congress with a monetary reform plan that recommended the establishment of the National Reserve Association, which would hold the reserves of commercial banks and could make short-term loans to banks to ensure credit availability. Congress responded Learn to Trade Markets by drafting the Federal Reserve Act, creating the Federal Reserve System. President Woodrow Wilson signed the act into law on Dec. 23, 1913.

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