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What year did quarters stop being made of silver?

1964 was the last date for 90% silver quarters and dimes. The composition was changed to copper-nickel in 1965, when the price of silver soared over the face value of the coins. Note that halves were made out of 40% silver for 6 more years. Also, contrary to popular myth, pre-1965 nickels were NOT made of silver, except for the famous war nickels made during 1942-45.


How did the use of cotton gin change the way cotton was processed?

The invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney in 1793 revolutionized cotton processing by significantly speeding up the separation of cotton fibers from seeds. This mechanized process allowed a single worker to clean as much cotton in one hour as could be done by hand in a full day, greatly increasing efficiency. As a result, cotton production soared, fueling the growth of the cotton industry and the demand for slave labor in the American South. This shift not only transformed agriculture but also had profound social and economic impacts on the United States.


How did triangle trade influence the development of America?

The Triangle Trade significantly influenced the development of America by facilitating the exchange of goods, resources, and enslaved people between Europe, Africa, and the Americas. This trade network contributed to the economic growth of American colonies, particularly in the agricultural sector, as the demand for labor-intensive crops like tobacco and cotton soared. Additionally, the influx of enslaved Africans shaped cultural and social dynamics in the colonies, laying the groundwork for complex societal structures that would persist long after slavery was abolished. Overall, Triangle Trade was pivotal in shaping America's economic foundations and demographic landscape.


Why did the labor movement lose its appeal during the 1920's?

Unions lost their appeal in the 1920's because much of the work force consisted of immigrants who could not speak English and spoke a variety of languages. This made it difficult for unions to organize various ethnicities. Also, many unions excluded African Americans. Better answer: as union organizing spread after WWI and strikes became more common, US courts almost universally ruled unions illegal conspiracies, and strikes illegal intimidation and extortion. After hundreds of union members lost their jobs and went to jail, interest naturally declined. In 1935, unionizing became LAWFUL, and its popularity soared.


Were silver certificates used as actual currency back when printed?

Very definitely! In fact, silver certificates were the most common, and sometimes the only, form of $1 bills until 1963 when they were replaced by Federal Reserve Notes. At that time the value of silver was controlled by the Treasury at $1.29/oz so it was always possible to exchange notes for a fixed amount of silver coins or metal. When demand for silver soared the government was forced to deregulate its price, which meant the metal could no longer be used in coins or as backing for bills because their face and intrinsic values could be different. That in fact happened in the mid-1960s; people hoarded huge numbers of silver coins because they could sell them to metal dealers for much more than their face value - sometimes as high as 30 or more times as much. The government ordered dimes and quarters to be made from copper-nickel starting in 1965, and reduced the amount of silver in half dollars until 1971, when that coin too was converted to copper-nickel.