What event led to the labeling of the 1873 monetary measure as the "Crime of '73"?

The term "Crime of '73" refers to the Coinage Act of 1873, which effectively ended the minting of silver dollars and placed the United States on a de facto gold standard. This decision was met with fierce opposition, particularly from those who had vested interests in silver mining. The silver mining interests strongly opposed the act because they relied on the profitability of silver coins for their economic stability. They characterized the government’s decision to discontinue the coinage of silver as a betrayal of their interests, and thus labeled it a "crime."

The protests from silver miners and their supporters grew in intensity as they argued that the act harmed the economy and led to deflation, disproportionately affecting farmers and laborers who benefited from a bimetallic standard that included both gold and silver. This discontent contributed to a broader debate over monetary policy in the United States, which later played a significant role in shaping political dynamics during the Gilded Age.