Freesilverism

/ˌfriːˈsɪlvərɪzəm/ noun

Definition

A 19th-century political movement and economic theory advocating unlimited coinage of silver as money to create inflation and help farmers and workers.

Etymology

From 'free silver' (unlimited silver coinage) + '-ism' (Greek -ismos, a system or doctrine). A movement that peaked in the 1890s American political debates.

Kelly Says

Free silver was basically a bet that if you made money cheaper by adding more of it (silver), poor people would have an easier time—it became THE issue in the 1896 election and nearly changed American economics.

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