I. Watch the video and fill below (VPN needed in Russia) and prepare answers to the questions:
- How did Mayer Rothschild's early trading ventures evolve over time? 1:24
- How did Nathan Rothschild capitalize on the London textile industry's growth?
- What strategy did Mayer Rothschild employ that is comparable to a modern-day one? 1:42
- What prompted Mayer Rothschild to transition from trading textiles to other ventures? 2:46
- Why did Mayer Rothschild envision transitioning into banking?
- How did Mayer Rothschild expand his banking business across Europe? 3:43
- What were some characteristics of the financial landscape in Great Britain during the early 1800s?
- What significant role did Nathan Rothschild play in supplying goods during the Napoleonic Wars?
- How did the House of Rothschild profit during times of war?
- What factors contributed to the success of the Rothschild banking dynasty?
- What pivotal decision did Nathan Rothschild make regarding his business direction?
- How did Nathan Rothschild respond to the need for French coins during Wellington's campaign?
- What was the primary advantage the House of Rothschild had in the early modern banking system?
- How did the Rothschilds approach currency speculation, and what was the result?
- What impact did Nathan Rothschild's death have on the financial market?
- How did the Rothschild family business continue after Nathan Rothschild's passing?
- What specific skills or strategies did the Rothschilds use to maintain their financial success?
- How did the Rothschilds capitalize on the financial needs during times of war?
- What made Nathan Rothschild stand out in the world of finance during his lifetime?
- How did the House of Rothschild adapt to the changing financial landscape of their era?
- Who becomes the new leader of the Rothschild's banking system?
- In what industry does James Rothschild focus his attention?
- What impact did railroads have on Europe during the 1840s?
- How did the Rothschilds diversify their investments beyond banking?
- What challenges did the average people face despite the Rothschilds' soaring profits?
- What event marks a turning point for the House of Rothschild, prompting them to pursue more business opportunities?
- What led to one of the worst depressions in history in 1893?
- Why did President Grover Cleveland refuse to engage in expansionary fiscal policies during the Panic of 1893?
- How did J. Pierpont Morgan assist the federal government in 1893?
- What were some consequences of World War I for the House of Rothschild?
- What challenges did the House of Rothschild face in Europe during the early 1900s?
- What significant historical event happened in Europe in 1940?
- What prompts the House of Rothschild to pursue more business opportunities?
- What internal conflicts arise within N.M. Rothschild and Sons?
- What significant event involving Robert Maxwell impacts the Rothschilds' reputation?
- What does the scandal involving Robert Maxwell entail?
- How does Sir Evelyn de Rothschild respond to the scandal involving Robert Maxwell?
- What is the state of N.M. Rothschild by the early 1990s?
- How has the Rothschild family diversified their interests by 2023?
II. Fill out the gaps on the dialogue below with the words from the first column in the table coming before each dialogue.
You may have to change the form of the word(s)
Dialogue 1
| Idiom / Phrase to be used in the dialogue | Example Usage | Russian Equivalent | Rephrase in English |
|---|---|---|---|
| front-run the market | He front-ran the housing crash and sold early. | играть на опережение рынка | anticipate the market |
| choose | She chose the quiet path over the crowded one. | выбрать | select |
| entrust | They entrusted him with their savings. | доверить | give responsibility to |
| treat information like gold dust | Spies treat information like gold dust. | обращаться с инфой как с золотом | value secrecy |
| gets wind of | If the press gets wind of it, it’ll be a mess. | узнать о | hear about it |
| sell smart | She sells smart, never under pressure. | грамотно продавать | trade strategically |
| walk away with | He walked away with the top prize. | уйти/выйти с прибылью | leave with |
| shake on it | We shook on it right then and there. | ударить по рукам | confirm with a handshake |
| play to win | This team always plays to win. | играть на победу | act with ambition |
| inside out | I know this city inside out. | досконально | in full detail |
| a return | The investment yielded a solid return. | доход / прибыль | profit |
| over | They chose comfort over speed. | вместо | instead of |
| waste your time | I won't waste your time with nonsense. | тратить ваше время впустую | make you lose time |
| keep/get ears to the ground | She keeps her ears to the ground for trends. | держать ухо востро | stay well-informed |
| lose my right hand | I’d lose my right hand before I betray you. | потерять руку | make a huge sacrifice |
| allow smb to V1 | They allowed her to leave early. | позволить | permit / let |
Mayer Rothschild: Your Serene Highness, if I may take just a moment—why not me to act as your exclusive coin broker? I know the market , and I’ve got in every exchange across Europe.
Prince William: Interesting. But why would I you the imperial court's regular agents?
Mayer: Because I’d rather you this delicate business to someone who . Others might play it safe—I . I can act swiftly, quietly, and—if I may be frank—more profitably.
Prince William: And what makes you so sure?
Mayer: I wouldn’t be standing here if I hadn’t already on three occasions this month alone. I'd sooner risk my own capital than . Let me buy first, , and you’ll both your gold—and a handsome .
Prince William: And discretion? Mayer: My lord, I’d rather than let your rivals know where your coins go. We had better now, before someone else the opportunity.
Total Questions: 0
Incorrect Answers: 0
Listen to the dialogue and learn by heart both the roles, mind pronunciation.
Dialogue 2
| Idiom / Phrase to be used in the dialogue | Example Usage | Russian Equivalent | Rephrase in English |
|---|---|---|---|
| cutting | Some manufacturers save money by cutting corners, which can backfire. | не халтурю | not compromising |
| worth the risk | He’s unconventional, but his results are worth the risk. | стоит риска | worth trusting despite uncertainty |
| locked this deal in | They locked this deal in before the market shifted. | закрепили сделку | finalize the deal |
| vanish at the first storm | Some freelancers vanish at the first storm when deadlines approach. | исчезнут при первых трудностях | disappear when things get tough |
| snatch | Another department tried to snatch the project after all our prep work. | вырвут прямо из рук | steal the opportunity |
| make a peacock jealous | The fashion show featured colors that would make a peacock jealous. | что павлин позавидует | extremely vivid colors |
| deliver every bolt and batch | The supplier promised to deliver every bolt and batch by Friday. | доставить каждый рулон | ensure total delivery |
| cut to the chase | Let’s cut to the chase—what do you want from me? | перейдём к делу | get to the point |
| split | We shouldn't split our efforts across too many projects. | разделять | divide |
| had steady supply | We’ve always had steady supply thanks to our logistics team. | имели стабильные поставки | ensure reliable delivery |
| in daylight | After that embarrassment, I couldn’t walk in daylight again. | увидеть меня при свете дня | face anyone again |
| as well | Since we’re here, we might as well try the new menu. | лучше сразу | just go ahead |
| raw material | The company imports raw material from India. | сырьё | base resources |
| losing class | He managed to be funny without losing class. | не теряя качества | staying elegant and refined |
Nathan Rothschild: Mr. Bennett, why don’t we ? You need materials. I’ve got cotton fresher than morning bread, and dyes deep enough to .
Mr. Bennett (Textile manufacturer): You're not the only merchant in town, Mr. Rothschild. What makes you ?
Nathan: Because I’m not just offering quality—I’m offering consistency. I would rather you than volatile fortune. And I’d sooner we now than watched your rivals it from under you.
Mr. Bennett: You're asking for exclusivity?
Nathan: Exactly. You’d better not orders with five others who’ll . I’d rather you trusted me to . If I ever failed you, I’d wish nobody saw me again.
Mr. Bennett: And the prices? Nathan: Let’s just say: I could sell cheaper than anybody, because I make profit three ways. I get the , the dye, and the labor. I’m not corners—I’m cutting cost without . Honestly, you might sign today, or you’ll be wishing you had when your factory stands still next month.
Total Questions: 0
Incorrect Answers: 0
Listen to the dialogue and try to learn by heart both the roles, mind pronunciation
III. Read te text below and translate it. Make up a dialogue in which J.P.Morgan asks the London-based Rothschild to give them gold to back up the dollar.
A deeper look at the real-life rationale and documentation behind J.P. Morgan’s initiative to persuade the London Rothschilds to provide gold to the U.S. Treasury during the gold panic of 1893–95:
1. Negotiated Syndicate with Yield Compensation
- Morgan assembled an international syndicate of gold shippers (including Rothschilds and other European banks) to purchase U.S. government bonds and deliver gold to the Treasury immigrantentrepreneurship.org+3files.ehs.org.uk+3businessinsider.com+3.
- Rothschild demanded a yield of 3¾ %, slightly above prior U.S. bonds (3 %), to offset the opportunity cost—most notably the profits they would lose by not exporting gold for six months files.ehs.org.uk.
- This high yield incentivized gold shippers to keep gold in the United States—rather than sending it abroad.
2. Legal Loophole & Bond Mechanism
- Morgan’s lawyers discovered a little-known Civil War–era statute that allowed issuing gold-backed bonds without congressional approval dash.harvard.edu+12businessinsider.com+12files.ehs.org.uk+12.
- He proposed that Morgan, along with August Belmont Jr., head of Rothschild’s U.S. interests, would guarantee the gold would remain in the U.S. Treasury—leveraging foreign exchange strategies and legal cover bankingjournal.aba.com.
3. Preventing Default & Restoring Confidence
- At that moment, the Treasury was days away from default—gold reserves had plummeted below critical levels jstor.org+14en.wikipedia.org+14businessinsider.com+14.
- Morgan pressed President Cleveland to act immediately (telling him a default could happen “today”) library.fiveable.me+3en.wikipedia.org+3bankingjournal.aba.com+3.
- The arrangement aimed to rebuild foreign and domestic confidence in the dollar’s convertibility into gold, mitigating further capital flight .
4. Agreements and Secrecy
- Records indicate formal syndicate agreements—such as Syndicate Books of J.P. Morgan & Co., treasury contracts, and internal communications archived in the London Metropolitan Archives files.ehs.org.uk.
- A telegram from Rothschild’s circle to Morgan shows their collaboration, and a Congressional Record entry confirms the use of the Civil War statute reddit.com+7en.wikipedia.org+7businessinsider.com+7.
✅ Summary of Real Arguments
- Compensation for opportunity cost through a higher bond yield
- Leverage of existing legal statutes to bypass legislative delays
- A firm international coalition (Rothschilds + shippers) ensuring delivery and confidence
- The necessity to prevent default, and thus preserve the gold standard
These elements are well-documented across syndicate records, treasury archives, and even Congressional debates—confirming a remarkably swift and strategic bailout orchestrated by Morgan in partnership with Rothschild.