With the colonies in a conflict with Britain, many countries decided to break off or at least slow down trade with America. The amount of money being brought into the colonies plummeted, meaning the colonies would emerge from the war victorious but in deep debt. Some businesses did well during the war while others amassed large debts or went out of business all together. The Congressional bills of credit before the war were being printed 1.5 for every 1 unit of gold. By the end of the war, the same bills of credit were being printed at an exchange of almost 150 to 1. Prices rose, and taxes followed shortly behind them. Anything that could be taxed was and people grew weary quickly. It took nearly twenty years before the economy started to turn around.
