Most people have no idea that America's entire financial system was designed in secret. It was not created by the government or through a public vote. Instead, it was crafted behind closed doors by a small group of bankers and politicians who worked together to build a system that would serve their interests for generations. It all began in November 1910, when seven of the most powerful men in banking and finance boarded a private train in Hoboken, New Jersey. Their destination was Jekyll Island, Georgia, a secluded and exclusive resort for the wealthy. This was not a casual business retreat. These men were about to lay the foundation for a financial system that would change the course of American history. The secrecy surrounding this meeting was extreme. The attendees were instructed to use fake names, avoid travelling together, and tell no one where they were going. Even the porters and staff on the train were kept in the dark about their identities. The reason was clear: if the public discovered that a handful of powerful bankers were secretly designing a new banking system, it would spark outrage. The men who attended this meeting were among the most influential figures in banking and government: Senator Nelson Aldrich - One of the most powerful politicians in Washington, closely aligned with Wall Street, Paul Warburg - A European banker from Germany, deeply knowledgable about central banking and eager to introduce a similar system in the United States, Henry P. Davison & Benjamin Strong - High-ranking executives within J.P. Morgan's banking empire, Frank Vanderlip - President of National City Bank of New York, the largest bank in the country at the time, A. Piatt Andrew - A leading economist and former Treasury official, and Charles D. Norton - Another key banking figure with strong ties to J.P. Morgan. These men controlled vast amounts of wealth and influence. Together, they set out to create a system that would stabilize the banking industry while ensuring that the major financial institutions, particularly their own, maintained dominance. At the time, the American public deeply distrusted large banks. Financial crises, including major bank collapses in 1873, 1893, and 1907, had devastated the economy. Each time, ordinary Americans suffered while the wealthiest bankers found ways to protect their own interests. The idea of a central bank had been proposed before, but Americans had consistently rejected it. Many feared that giving a small group of private bankers control over the nation's money supply would lead to corruption and exploitation. If word got out these men were secretly designing a new banking system, the public backlash would have been swift and severe. To ensure success, they needed to work in complete secrecy and later present their plan as a much needed reform rather than a scheme to consolidate power.