First Bank of the United States

E7829

The First Bank of the United States was the early national government’s central financial institution, chartered in 1791 to stabilize and standardize the young American economy under Alexander Hamilton’s financial program.


Statements (49)
Predicate Object
instanceOf central bank
commercial bank
national bank
architect Samuel Blodgett
authorizedBy United States Congress
branchNetwork multiple branches in major U.S. cities
capitalization 10 million dollars
charterDate 1791
charterLength 20 years
charterNotRenewed 1811
constitutionalDebate raised questions about implied powers under the U.S. Constitution
country United States
creator Alexander Hamilton
currencyRole its notes circulated as a national medium of exchange
currentUseOfBuilding part of Independence National Historical Park
disestablished 1811
era Early National Period of the United States
established 1791
function extended credit to the government
facilitated tax collection
held government deposits
issued banknotes redeemable in specie
served as fiscal agent of the U.S. federal government
governance board of directors elected by shareholders
governmentRepresentation federal government appointed some directors
headquartersBuildingCompleted 1797
heritageStatus National Historic Landmark
influenced development of the U.S. banking system
later central banking in the United States
legalBasis Necessary and Proper Clause of the U.S. Constitution
locatedIn Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
monopolyOnFederalDeposits true
opposedBy Democratic-Republican Party
James Madison
Thomas Jefferson
partOf Alexander Hamilton's financial program
privateOwnershipShare 80 percent
proposedBy Alexander Hamilton
publicOwnershipShare 20 percent
purpose improve the credit of the United States
stabilize the American economy
standardize the American currency
regionServed United States
relatedProgram assumption of state debts
establishment of federal taxes and tariffs
funding of the national debt
signedIntoLawBy George Washington
succeededBy Second Bank of the United States
supportedBy Federalist Party


Please wait…