Economic History

The Second bank of the United States was chartered in 1816 for a term of 20 years. The time limitation reflected the concerns of many in Congress about the concentration of financial power in a private corporation.

The history of capitalism can be traced back to early forms of merchant capitalism practiced in Western Europe during the Middle Ages. It began to develop into its modern form during the Early Modern period in the Protestant countries of North-Western Europe, especially the Netherlands and England.

The rise of capitalism was a result of the rise of mercantilism. Learn about the rise of capitalism and how it replaced the former barter system.

Ten years ago last November, a Republican-led Congress and a Democratic White House rolled out the red carpet for a new age of global, "full service," too-big-to-fail financial institutions. The move repealed the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933, a set of reforms responsible for the longest crisis-free period in U.S. financial history.

Banks are a part of ancient history. Find out how this system of money management developed into what we know today.

Banking has changed in many ways through the years. Banks today offer a wider range of products and services than ever before, and deliver them faster and more efficiently. But banking's central function remains as it has always been.

History of Banking including Safe in the temple, Greek and Roman financiers.

The heart of this document focuses on the unlikely set of events leading to the passage of the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 (NLRA). The NLRA was a major turning point in American labor history because it was supposed to put the power of government behind the right of workers to organize unions and bargain collectively with their employers about wages, hours, and working conditions.

Labor unions are legally recognized as representatives of workers in many industries in the United States. Their activity today centers on collective bargaining over wages, benefits, and working conditions for their membership, and on representing their members in disputes with management over violations of contract provisions.

Find out more about the history of Labor Movement, including videos, interesting articles, pictures, historical features and more. Get all the facts on History.

Union Plus benefits offered by the AFL-CIO's Union Privilege provides consumer savings, discounts, benefits, and education resources to active and retired labor union members.