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Börskraschen 1873

The American economy experienced a great boom after the Civil War. In particular, railroad construction was thriving, with over 35,000 miles of track laid between 1865 and 1873. The industry attracted big money but was also a source of big risk, with capital tied to long-term projects. The industry grew to be the largest non-agricultural employer in the US, and numerous banks, as well as investors, were continuously injecting capital. But a stock market crash in Europe inspired panic among European investors, and they started dumping their railroad bonds in the United States. Railroad companies started having problems, and the trickle effect led to the collapse of one of the biggest banks in New York, Jay Cooke & Company. The panic then quickly spread throughout the country, claiming multiple railroad companies and over 100 banks.

Market Crash of 1873