April 10

Following the 1545 discovery of vast silver veins, the Spanish crown establishes Villa Imperial de Carlos V. The city quickly grows around Cerro Rico, the 'Rich Mountain,' which becomes a major silver source. The wealth extracted from Potosí profoundly impacts the Spanish economy and global trade. Indigenous labor and African slaves work under harsh conditions in the mines. By the late 16th century, Potosí rivals Paris in population, underscoring its economic importance.

On April 10, 1606, the Virginia Company of London receives a charter to colonize the eastern coast of North America. This joint-stock company model attracts investors keen on New World opportunities. Its first settlement, Jamestown, follows three years later as England’s foothold in the continent. The company aims to profit from resources like tobacco and precious minerals. Its governance framework lays the groundwork for future colonial administration and expansion.

In 1816, the young United States faced economic turbulence following the War of 1812. On April 10, Congress and President James Madison authorized a charter for the Second Bank of the United States. Modeled after its predecessor, the new bank was granted a 20-year charter to regulate currency, oversee public deposits, and finance federal operations. Its creation aimed to curb inflation, establish credit worthiness, and unify the nation's monetary system. Located in Philadelphia, the bank held branches in major cities and became a central hub of American finance. It played a key role in stabilizing banknotes and controlling the money supply. However, debates over its constitutionality and political influence would later spark the Bank War under President Andrew Jackson. The institution’s successes and controversies profoundly shaped the evolution of American banking and federal economic policy.