Appropriating Revolution
A group exhibition at Brooklyn’s Old Stone House, a
historical museum and art gallery. The Society distilled
whiskey while explaining why Burr shot Hamilton.
Free Money Movement & the Commons
The FMM letterpress print reflects historical economic and political policies that are still playing out today.
After the American Revolution there were five armed rebellions against the new republic. Speculation on Revolutionary War Bonds and a bailout of speculators that was included in the federal government’s assumption of the state’s debt. During this period, some states issued paper money [Free Money] to help the lower classes pay their property taxes. Massachusetts did not issue paper money and the result was Shays’ Rebellion.
Below left is the top center of the print. The illustration of the snake is an appropriation of a Ben Franklin political cartoon from 1754. The Society has modified the image by adding Occupy Wall Street and affiliated groups as well as events that we have participated. We also add or Die in Debt to Franklin’s original illustration.
Below right is the title of Ben Franklin’s pamphlet on Paper Currency, or what the Society references as Free Money. The term Free Money originated with the 2008 bailout of Wall Street, a bailout that continues today. Franklin’s Paper Money principles were designed for universal prosperity something that is desperately needed today. Franklin also printed the twenty shilling bill.
Below is a comparison of Aaron Burr’s populist agenda versus Alexander Hamilton
policies that takes wealth from the bottom up to the 1%.
For more information go to Free Money Movement and the 2nd Whiskey Rebellions and related links.
Fotos from a whiskey distillation at the Old Stone House celebrating the 240th anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn. Professional & amateur historians, fellow travelers and the curious drank freshly distilled whiskey and enjoyed my rap on the the Society’s 2nd Whiskey Rebellion. And they were delighted with the Society’s explanation of “Why I Shot Hamilton, America’s 1st Capitalist.” In the fotos below Kim Maier, the director of the Old Stone House, shows that she is an enthusiastic supporter of the Society! Jerry Goralnick, a companero from OWS & Strike Debt, observes.
