The New York City Flour Riot of February 1837 – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 459

186 years ago, with the US economy starting to melt down, New Yorkers rioted against alleged grain and flour hoarding. But discontent was much more widespread, as Locofocos and armed “Patriot” paramilitaries soon made clear. Bill and Rachel.

Links and notes for ep. 459 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/AFD-Ep-459-Links-and-Notes-NYC-Flour-Riot-of-1837.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

[Bonus] That 70s Woe: Nixon’s Gold – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 407

A potential series on understanding the transition of the US economy in the Crisis of the 1970s: The episode on foreign exchange, gold convertibility, and the Nixon Shock of August 15, 1971. (A Bill solo episode recorded Jan 12, 2022.)

Links and notes (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Bonus-AFD-Ep-407-Links-and-Notes-That-70s-Woe_-Nixons-Gold.pdf

Dec 26, 2021 – 1971 Recap – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 405

Description: Bill and Rachel recap some developments of 50 years ago in 1971: anti-smoking campaigns; the launch of Starbucks, Southwest, Amtrak, and Disney World; desegregation busing; special education laws; the War on Drugs; a new voting age; the first e-book; and more.

Links and notes for Ep. 405 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/AFD-Ep-405-Links-and-Notes-1971-Recap.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

American Money, Part V: Epilogue – Personal Finance – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 399

The 5th part of our miniseries on money itself during the 2nd Industrial Revolution in the US. Bill and Rachel look at the ideology of consumer finance, the rise of home and auto loans, and how the seeds of the 21st century financialization were planted long ago.

Links and notes for Ep. 399 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/American-Money-Part-V_-Epilogue-Personal-Finance-Arsenal-For-Democracy-Ep-399.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

American Money, Part IV: The Cross of Gold – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 398

The 4th part of our miniseries on money itself during the 2nd Industrial Revolution in the US. Bill and Rachel look at the political battles over silver coinage and the gold standard and why neither position makes sense in hindsight.

Links and noted for Ep. 398 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/American-Money-Part-IV_-The-Cross-of-Gold-Arsenal-For-Democracy-Ep-398.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

American Money, Part III: Store Credit, Installments, and Shadow Lending – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 397

The 3rd part of our miniseries on money itself during the 2nd Industrial Revolution in the US. Bill, Rachel, and Kelley look at the initial emergence of proto-consumer credit as well as sketchy and predatory small loans in industrial cities.

Links and notes for Ep. 397 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/American-Money-Part-III_-Store-Credit-Installments-and-Shadow-Lending-Arsenal-For-Democracy-Ep-397.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

American Money, Parts I and II: Antebellum Through Reconstruction – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 396

The first episode of our miniseries on money itself during the Second Industrial Revolution in the United States. Bill and Rachel pose philosophical questions on the nature of money and look at changes in US monetary policy from the Antebellum period through 1876.

Links and notes for Ep. 396 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/American-Money-Parts-I-and-II_-Antebellum-Through-Reconstruction-Arsenal-For-Democracy-Ep-396.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.