An Empire of Wealth: The Epic History of American Economic Power

An Empire of Wealth traces the history of the American economy from its origins to its emergence as the world's largest and most dynamic economic power. John Steele Gordon examines how the nation, combining its English political inheritance with a diverse and ambitious population, developed increasing wealth across its growing population. The book documents significant challenges the American economy faced and overcame, including a severe recession following the Revolution, Andrew Jackson's decision to eliminate the central bank for nearly eighty years, and the Great Depression of the 1930s. Despite these obstacles, the economy strengthened considerably. Gordon argues that in recent decades, American economic dominance led to the global spread of American culture and perspective, largely through twentieth-century technological innovations that originated in the United States and were distributed worldwide.