There is perhaps no other political issue in our contemporary society that is more relevant, pervasive and all-encompassing than the economics of a country. From the first coins used in Greece and Asia Minor in the 7th century BCE to the first uses of paper money, history has proven time and time again that control of a region's economy is absolutely crucial to maintaining social stability and prosperity. Yet for more than a century, researchers have continued to speculate about why the United States, one of the world's strongest and most influential countries, has one of the most unstable economies. Although the causes of this economic instability can be attributed to multiple factors, almost all economists agree that they have a common ancestor: the Federal Reserve Bank – the official central bank of the United States. Throughout this article, I will attempt to determine whether or not there is a causal relationship between the Federal Reserve's monetary policies and the decline of the U.S. economy. I will do this through a brief analysis of the history and role of this institution, in addition to the central banking system in general. In turn, I will argue that the Federal Reserve Bank's reckless and intentional manipulation of the economy, through inflation and the abolition of the gold standard, has led to the current economic crisis in the United States. . Before we begin our investigation, it is imperative that we understand the historical role of the central bank in the United States. Examining the traditional motivations of this institution over time will help the reader observe a direct correlation between it and its ability to manipulate an economy. To begin, I will examine one of his central policies... middle of document...... view 26.4:683-690. JSTOR database. Internet. November 18, 2010. Sprague, OMW “The Federal Reserve Act of 1913.” The MIT Press 28.2 (1914): 213-254. JSTOR database. Internet. November 18, 2010. Sproul, Allan. “The gold question”. Vital Discourses of the Day 16.4 (1949): 108. Academic research completed. EBSCO. Internet. November 18, 2010. United States. Federal Reserve Bank. Frequently asked questions. March 2007. Federal Reserve Board. Internet. December 13, 2010. United States. US Treasury Department. Historical Debt Outstanding – Annual 1791 – 1849. August 2008. Treasury Direct. Internet. December 13, 2010. Constitution of the United States. Amendment 10.USdebtclock.org. United States National Debt Clock, 2010. Web. December 13. 2010.