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In 1895 the United States was in the second year of a disastrous economic depression. One in five men found them selfs out of work. In Washington DC, President Grover Cleveland found the United States government on the verge of bankruptcy as its Gold reserves were almost entirely depleted. In a desperate move to avoid default, Cleveland turned to the one man in America whom could loan the federal government enough funds: John Pierpont Morgan. Of course Morgan found it to be in his interest to aid the government, at a profit, and began to assemble a syndicate to loan the US government upwards of 50 Million Dollars in Gold bullion. Only a few days after receiving Cleveland's request for aid, Morgan was almost ready to assemble his group of trans-Atlantic investors. But then...

New York
May 1895
Alexander Berkman tried to maintain his calm as he stood next to the door at Drexel, Morgan & Co. He pushed his glasses up his nose, and tried to maintain his calm. He'd failed three years ago to create propaganda for the movement, he must not fail to act this time. That time he'd lost his precious Emma, who'd had no need for cowards, this time maybe, he could win her back.[1] He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. His target represented everything that was wrong in America. To kill him would be a service for the proletariat in this land and around the world.
The sun was setting in the west as the door opened. Berkman placed his hand in his coat pocket and wrapped it around the handle of the Colt revolver. Out stepped four men, in the middle stood one in a bowler, a cane in hand. Around him, men with briefcases. One gruff looking brawler, held himself like a Pinkerton, was obviously the bodyguard. By luck he was on the other side of Berkman's target. For a moment, he felt fear fill him. He pushed it back, willing himself not to fail a second time.
Taking a step towards the door, he found himself standing behind the four men. It was the moment of truth. Berkman pulled the revolver out, and dramatically aimed it at his target, the man in the blower, who was looking towards the ground, presumably trying to hide his case of rosacea. Berkman then shouted, as he planted his feet for the shot. "Morgan you Swine! Your crime is finished!" The man turned around, a moment before the other men of his party and stared Berkman in the face, he began to lift his cane and shout. Before a word came out of his mouth though, his assassin squeezed the trigger. Four shots would hit Morgan before his bodyguard was able to return fire. JP Morgan would be dead before the end of the hour.

Washington DC
June 1895
Grover Cleveland found the situation more and more desperate with each passing day. Since Morgan's death in the last month he had struggled along with his Secretary of the Treasury, John G. Carlisle to find a replacement leader to lead a new syndicate to create a new loan. In the mean time, the treasuries reserve of gold had dwindled down to even lower levels. The report in front of the President stated the reserve would be emptied by the end of next month at the current rate. The moment of truth was at hand.
The president looked up from his desk at Carlisle, there were few options left. The time had come to decide which one to take. "So, John... Is it time to ask congress for a new bill?" The secretary shook his head. "No sir. We must stay with this Gold Standard at all costs. We cannot consider a silver standard. It would be even more dangerous to the economy."
"More dangerous then a government shut down?" Cleveland could not be sure.
Carlisle nodded "Sir it would destroy all faith in our currency. If the government cuts spending though, it will show the American people that we are being responsible, that itself will restore the common faith in the economy."
"Are you sure this is the right course of action?" The president seemed unsure of himself.
"After the fight to preserve the Gold Standard sir? Any other course of action would be suicide."
Cleveland nodded. And so it was done. Not a word was mentioned that the government shut down would involve the loss of thousands of jobs. Such things would only be discussed later, by lower ranking men then these.

[1] The Point of Divergence is that Berkman backs out at the last moment in his 1892 Assassination attempt against Henry Clay Frick of US Steel. As a result by 1895 he's a broken young man, having lost his love, Emma Goldman, whom had planned the assassination with him.

OOC: This is just a start, but any thoughts and comments are welcome.
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