Category 11. The Global Adoption of the Gold Standard (1870s–1914 CE)

By the early 1900s, the gold standard reached its peak. Nearly every major economy had joined the system, and for the first time in history, the world had a truly global monetary system. Money was stable, international trade was booming,…

Imagine living in the 1800s and having to worry about whether your money will still be worth something tomorrow. That was a real concern for many people! Before the gold standard, countries used all sorts of money—gold, silver, and even…