Before 1914, U.S. macroeconomic performance was better.Interest rates were much more stable. It was mostly a 500 basis point range of 3% to 8% , without the Federal Reserve, the ten year Treasury note's price range was much more stable. Economic growth was higher and unemployment rates were lower than today. No Keynes' General Theory. No Janet Yellen attempting to centrally plan interest rates. No Fisher/Friedman Quantity Theory of Money. We re-post this chart down below as a reminder to all historians who haven't taken an economics class and all economists that don't know history. Click on the chart to read some important events in economic history .