Sufferers of the Revolution : the paper money movement in Brunswick County, Virginia, 1780-1787

The years following the American War for Independence were marked by economic decline and political uncertainty. In the mid-1780s, Virginia was mired in a depression that gave rise to a vocal movement that called for a return to a policy of emitting paper currency to augment scarce supplies of gold and silver coin. While historians have discussed Virginia\u27s monetary situation at length there has never been a satisfactory examination of the people who supported this particular movement. Petitions from Brunswick County residents who backed emissions of paper money provide an opportunity to develop a more accurate portrait of this group. Correlating petitioners with data such as their wealth in terms of real and personal property, voting patterns, and creditor/debtor status achieved this enhanced understanding. It is clear that Brunswick\u27s paper money movement drew support from a cross-section of the community and especially from those who struggled with debt