Length: {4:20 minutes}

By the end of the 1600s, England faced severe financial difficulties due to continuous wars with France and Holland. To address this, government officials sought loans from money changers. The solution was the establishment of the Bank of England in 1694, the world’s first privately owned central bank, despite being deceptively named to suggest it was a government entity. Initial investors were supposed to provide £1.25 million in gold, but only £750,000 was actually received. Nevertheless, the bank began operations, issuing loans and creating money out of nothing, leading to inflation and economic instability.

The Bank of England provided loans to politicians, backed by taxation of the British people, effectively allowing legal counterfeiting for private gain. This model of a privately controlled central bank has since been replicated worldwide. Central banks, though necessary, should not be privately controlled as they impose a hidden tax through inflation by creating money to buy government bonds. This increases the money supply, devaluing existing money and raising prices, leading to economic booms and busts rather than stability.

The formation of the Bank of England flooded the nation with money, doubling prices and funding speculative ventures. By 1698, government debt had soared from £1.25 million to £16 million, resulting in repeated tax increases. The economy experienced a series of booms and depressions, contrary to the central bank’s purpose of ensuring stability. The British pound has rarely been stable since the Bank of England took control. The chapter concludes with a mention of the influential Rothschild family, who would later play a significant role in banking and finance.

• INDEX (with correct start and stop times opening in a new window):
• 1. Intro {10:38 minutes}
• 2. The Money Changers {1:14 minutes}
• 3. Roman Empire {1:35 minutes}
• 4. The Goldsmiths {4:40 minutes}
• 5. Talley Sticks {4:55 minutes}
• >>6. The Bank of England {4:20 minutes}<<
• 7. The Rise of the Rothschilds {5:35 minutes}
• 8. The American Revolution {6:30 minutes}
• 9. The Bank of North America {2:35 minutes}
• 10. The Constitutional Convention {2:51 minutes}
• 11. First Bank of the United States {4:20 minutes}
• 12. Napoleon’s Rise To Power {2:41 minutes}
• 13. Death of the First Bank {2:10 minutes}
• 14. Waterloo {6:05 minutes}
• 15. Second Bank of the U.S. {1:20 minutes}
• 16. Andrew Jackson {9:52 minutes}
• 17. Abe Lincoln {16:23 minutes}
• 18. The Return of the Gold Standard {10:41 minutes}
• 19. Free Silver {5:10 minutes}
• 20. J.P. Morgan and the Crash of 1907 {4:55 minutes}
• 21. Jekyll Island {11:45 minutes}
• 22. Fed Act of 1913 {11:37 minutes}
• 23. World War I {7:21 minutes}
• 24. Great Depression {13:58 minutes}
• 25. FDR/WWII {13:00 minutes}
• 26. IMF/World Bank {11:51 minutes}
• 27. Conclusions {27:52 minutes}

Length {4:55 minutes}

The tally stick system, introduced by King Henry I of England around 1100 AD, was a unique monetary system designed to bypass the manipulative practices of goldsmiths. These tally sticks, made from polished wood with notches to denote denominations, were split lengthwise, with one half kept by the king to prevent counterfeiting. The other half was used as currency, widely accepted due to its mandated use for paying royal taxes.

This system endured for 726 years until 1826, significantly contributing to the British Empire’s growth.

Despite constant opposition from money changers promoting metal coins, tally sticks remained effective for tax payments.

The system eventually faced challenges in the 1500s when usury laws were relaxed and reinstated, leading to economic fluctuations influenced by the availability of gold and silver coins.

The tally stick system’s decline coincided with major political upheavals and the eventual establishment of the Bank of England, which sought to centralize financial power.

• INDEX (with correct start and stop times opening in a new window):
• 1. Intro {10:38 minutes}
• 2. The Money Changers {1:14 minutes}
• 3. Roman Empire {1:35 minutes}
• 4. The Goldsmiths {4:40 minutes}
• >>5. Talley Sticks {4:55 minutes}<<
• 6. The Bank of England {4:20 minutes}
• 7. The Rise of the Rothschilds {5:35 minutes}
• 8. The American Revolution {6:30 minutes}
• 9. The Bank of North America {2:35 minutes}
• 10. The Constitutional Convention {2:51 minutes}
• 11. First Bank of the United States {4:20 minutes}
• 12. Napoleon’s Rise To Power {2:41 minutes}
• 13. Death of the First Bank {2:10 minutes}
• 14. Waterloo {6:05 minutes}
• 15. Second Bank of the U.S. {1:20 minutes}
• 16. Andrew Jackson {9:52 minutes}
• 17. Abe Lincoln {16:23 minutes}
• 18. The Return of the Gold Standard {10:41 minutes}
• 19. Free Silver {5:10 minutes}
• 20. J.P. Morgan and the Crash of 1907 {4:55 minutes}
• 21. Jekyll Island {11:45 minutes}
• 22. Fed Act of 1913 {11:37 minutes}
• 23. World War I {7:21 minutes}
• 24. Great Depression {13:58 minutes}
• 25. FDR/WWII {13:00 minutes}
• 26. IMF/World Bank {11:51 minutes}
• 27. Conclusions {27:52 minutes}

Length {4:40 minutes}

The chapter on the Goldsmiths delves into the historical manipulation of money by money changers, illustrating that such practices predate Jesus’s time.

Around 200 years before Christ, Rome faced significant issues with money changers. Efforts by early Roman emperors to curb the power of money changers through reforms of Usury laws and land ownership limits resulted in their assassinations. Julius Caesar later reclaimed the authority to mint money from the money changers, creating a more abundant money supply which he used to fund substantial public works projects. This move won Caesar the favor of the common people but incurred the wrath of the money changers, potentially contributing to his assassination.

Following Caesar’s death, Rome saw a decline in its money supply, leading to increased taxes and corruption. The money supply was eventually reduced by 90%, causing widespread loss of land and homes among the populace, reminiscent of contemporary America. This economic decline eroded public confidence in the Roman government, leading to a refusal to support it, which ultimately contributed to Rome’s descent into the Dark Ages.

• INDEX (with correct start and stop times opening in a new window):
• 1. Intro {10:38 minutes}
• 2. The Money Changers {1:14 minutes}
• 3. Roman Empire {1:35 minutes}
• >>4. The Goldsmiths {4:40 minutes}<<
• 5. Talley Sticks {4:55 minutes}
• 6. The Bank of England {4:20 minutes}
• 7. The Rise of the Rothschilds {5:35 minutes}
• 8. The American Revolution {6:30 minutes}
• 9. The Bank of North America {2:35 minutes}
• 10. The Constitutional Convention {2:51 minutes}
• 11. First Bank of the United States {4:20 minutes}
• 12. Napoleon’s Rise To Power {2:41 minutes}
• 13. Death of the First Bank {2:10 minutes}
• 14. Waterloo {6:05 minutes}
• 15. Second Bank of the U.S. {1:20 minutes}
• 16. Andrew Jackson {9:52 minutes}
• 17. Abe Lincoln {16:23 minutes}
• 18. The Return of the Gold Standard {10:41 minutes}
• 19. Free Silver {5:10 minutes}
• 20. J.P. Morgan and the Crash of 1907 {4:55 minutes}
• 21. Jekyll Island {11:45 minutes}
• 22. Fed Act of 1913 {11:37 minutes}
• 23. World War I {7:21 minutes}
• 24. Great Depression {13:58 minutes}
• 25. FDR/WWII {13:00 minutes}
• 26. IMF/World Bank {11:51 minutes}
• 27. Conclusions {27:52 minutes}

Length: {1:14 minutes}

To understand the magnitude of the problem, we need to look back at Europe and the historical role of money changers. These money changers were referenced by James Madison and were even mentioned in the Bible, where Jesus drove them out of the temple. This event marked the only time Jesus used force in his ministry.

Money changers were in the temple because Jews coming to Jerusalem for the Temple tax had to pay with a specific coin, the half-shekel of the sanctuary. This coin was a half-ounce of pure silver and the only coin acceptable to God, as it was free from the image of a pagan emperor. However, these coins were scarce because the money changers had monopolized them, driving up their price to make exorbitant profits. This exploitation violated the sanctity of God’s house, according to Jesus.

To understand the magnitude of the problem, we need to look back at Europe and the historical role of money changers. These money changers were referenced by James Madison and were even mentioned in the Bible, where Jesus drove them out of the temple. This event marked the only time Jesus used force in his ministry.

Money changers were in the temple because Jews coming to Jerusalem for the Temple tax had to pay with a specific coin, the half-shekel of the sanctuary. This coin was a half-ounce of pure silver and the only coin acceptable to God, as it was free from the image of a pagan emperor. However, these coins were scarce because the money changers had monopolized them, driving up their price to make exorbitant profits. This exploitation violated the sanctity of God’s house, according to Jesus.

Money changers were in the temple because Jews coming to Jerusalem for the Temple tax had to pay with a specific coin, the half-shekel of the sanctuary. This coin was a half-ounce of pure silver and the only coin acceptable to God, as it was free from the image of a pagan emperor. However, these coins were scarce because the money changers had monopolized them, driving up their price to make exorbitant profits. This exploitation violated the sanctity of God’s house, according to Jesus.

• INDEX (with correct start and stop times opening in a new window):
• 1. Intro {10:38 minutes}
• >>2. The Money Changers {1:14 minutes}<<
• 3. Roman Empire {1:35 minutes}
• 4. The Goldsmiths {4:40 minutes}
• 5. Talley Sticks {4:55 minutes}
• 6. The Bank of England {4:20 minutes}
• 7. The Rise of the Rothschilds {5:35 minutes}
• 8. The American Revolution {6:30 minutes}
• 9. The Bank of North America {2:35 minutes}
• 10. The Constitutional Convention {2:51 minutes}
• 11. First Bank of the United States {4:20 minutes}
• 12. Napoleon’s Rise To Power {2:41 minutes}
• 13. Death of the First Bank {2:10 minutes}
• 14. Waterloo {6:05 minutes}
• 15. Second Bank of the U.S. {1:20 minutes}
• 16. Andrew Jackson {9:52 minutes}
• 17. Abe Lincoln {16:23 minutes}
• 18. The Return of the Gold Standard {10:41 minutes}
• 19. Free Silver {5:10 minutes}
• 20. J.P. Morgan and the Crash of 1907 {4:55 minutes}
• 21. Jekyll Island {11:45 minutes}
• 22. Fed Act of 1913 {11:37 minutes}
• 23. World War I {7:21 minutes}
• 24. Great Depression {13:58 minutes}
• 25. FDR/WWII {13:00 minutes}
• 26. IMF/World Bank {11:51 minutes}
• 27. Conclusions {27:52 minutes}

Length: {10:38 minutes}

Let me take you through a one month journey to learn unkown facts about history, which may let you see our current monetary system as an abritrary creation which may be changed.

To read the chapters will take you on average a minute; and if you don’t like reading, you find the entire information in the video below.

Bill Still discusses various economic issues in America, including rising debt, inflation, and the struggle of families to make ends meet. It attributes these problems to the Federal Reserve, describing it as a private, for-profit bank that controls the nation’s money supply, rather than a government entity.

The video argues that this system, established in 1913, prioritizes the profits of private stockholders over public interest. Historical figures like Charles Lindbergh and Barry Goldwater have criticized the Federal Reserve for its lack of transparency and its powerful influence over the economy.

The intro suggests that reforming the banking system, rather than focusing on the size of the national debt, is essential for addressing these economic issues.

• INDEX (with correct start and stop times opening in a new window):
• >>1. Intro {10:38 minutes}<< <-You are here
• 2. The Money Changers {1:14 minutes}
• 3. Roman Empire {1:35 minutes}
• 4. The Goldsmiths {4:40 minutes}
• 5. Talley Sticks {4:55 minutes}
• 6. The Bank of England {4:20 minutes}
• 7. The Rise of the Rothschilds {5:35 minutes}
• 8. The American Revolution {6:30 minutes}
• 9. The Bank of North America {2:35 minutes}
• 10. The Constitutional Convention {2:51 minutes}
• 11. First Bank of the United States {4:20 minutes}
• 12. Napoleon’s Rise To Power {2:41 minutes}
• 13. Death of the First Bank {2:10 minutes}
• 14. Waterloo {6:05 minutes}
• 15. Second Bank of the U.S. {1:20 minutes}
• 16. Andrew Jackson {9:52 minutes}
• 17. Abe Lincoln {16:23 minutes}
• 18. The Return of the Gold Standard {10:41 minutes}
• 19. Free Silver {5:10 minutes}
• 20. J.P. Morgan and the Crash of 1907 {4:55 minutes}
• 21. Jekyll Island {11:45 minutes}
• 22. Fed Act of 1913 {11:37 minutes}
• 23. World War I {7:21 minutes}
• 24. Great Depression {13:58 minutes}
• 25. FDR/WWII {13:00 minutes}
• 26. IMF/World Bank {11:51 minutes}
• 27. Conclusions {27:52 minutes}