Silver standard

The silver standard was a way that governments used to make their money. It was used in many countries, including the United States, between the 1800s and 1900s. Under the silver standard, people would use silver coins as money. The government had to promise to exchange those silver coins for a certain amount of gold. That way, people knew the money in their pockets would have a certain value. That made it easier to buy and sell goods and services.