Forum Post: Before "Occupy Wall Street": Notes on Prior New York City Protests Against Economic Crises

The Gotham Center for New York City would like to share its new feature, Before "Occupy Wall Street": Notes on Prior New York City Protests Against Economic Crises.

http://www.gothamcenter.org/features/protests/index.shtml

It's well known that – for more than two centuries – Wall Street has been repeatedly swept by financial panics, and that the American economy has repeatedly crumpled into recession or depression. It's less well known that virtually each collapse has been met by outraged protest, particularly in New York City, Wall Street's home town.

Putting the current surge of popular anger into historical perspective, historian and Gotham Center founder Mike Wallace discusses the crises and protests of 1792, 1837, 1857, 1874, and 1930. While there are no “lessons” to be learned here -- history never does repeat itself -- it might nevertheless be interesting for Occupy Wall Street participants and supporters to know that our anger and actions are not novel, but rather the latest in a long line of opposition to the inequitable workings of our economic system.