Lincoln issued his famous greenbacks to fund the Civil War without enslaving the American people to the 30% interest demanded by the bankers. Lincoln refused to plunge the people of the nation into a debt they could never pay back, and issued his own currency instead.

“... (we) gave the people of this Republic the greatest blessing they have ever had – their own paper money to pay their own debts...”

The bankers understood the threat a government-issued currency represented to their wealth and power. The London Times wrote of Lincoln's move...

“If that mischievous financial policy, which had its origin in the North American Republic, should become indurated down to a fixture, then that Government will furnish its own money without cost. It will pay off debts and be without a debt. It will have all the money necessary to carry on its commerce. It will become prosperous beyond precedent in the history of the civilized governments of the world. The brains and the wealth of all coun­tries will go to North America. That govern­ment must be destroyed, or it will destroy every monarchy on the globe.”