Getting Back to Business: The Buttonwood Agreement on the Eve of America’s 250th Birthday
The Buttonwood Agreement, signed on May 17, 1792, marked a pivotal moment in American economic history by establishing the foundation of the New York Stock Exchange. This agreement, made by 24 merchants and brokers, aimed to create a trustworthy trading environment and ensure fair commissions. As the U.S. approaches its 250th birthday, the principles of trust and stability from this agreement remain relevant for today's businesses.
- ▪The Buttonwood Agreement was signed by 24 merchants and brokers in 1792 at 68 Wall Street.
- ▪It established a network for trading public stocks and set a commission rate of one-quarter of 1%.
- ▪The agreement emphasized the importance of reliable markets and fair trading practices.
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Home – American Heritage News – Getting Back to Business: The Buttonwood Agreement on the Eve of America’s 250th Birthday opinion Getting Back to Business: The Buttonwood Agreement on the Eve of America’s 250th Birthday Douglas H. Napier • May 19, 2026 Print A trader on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on May 11, 2026. (ANGELA WEISS / AFP / Getty Images) (function(){var t=document.querySelector(".wp-block-kadence-dynamichtml"),s=document.currentScript.previousElementSibling;if(t&&s){if("prepend"==="before_element")t.parentNode.insertBefore(s,t);else if("prepend"==="after_element")t.parentNode.insertBefore(s,t.nextSibling);else if("prepend"==="prepend"||"prepend"==="inside_first_child")t.insertBefore(s,t.firstChild);else t.appendChild(s);}})(); This week marks the anniversary of…
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