Early in Van Buren's presidency, the Panic of 1837 struck, which was the greatest financial crisis up to that point in American history. The crisis stemmed from excessive land speculation, which followed former President [[Andrew Jackson]]'s policy of moving federal money into state banks and his creation of the [[Specie]] Circular. <ref>http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/aa/presidents/buren/panic_2</ref> Van Buren chose to do nothing and ride out the crisis, which led to a downfall in his popularity, and his being given the nickname "Martin Van Ruin". | Early in Van Buren's presidency, the Panic of 1837 struck, which was the greatest financial crisis up to that point in American history. The crisis stemmed from excessive land speculation, which followed former President [[Andrew Jackson]]'s policy of moving federal money into state banks and his creation of the [[Specie]] Circular. <ref>http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/aa/presidents/buren/panic_2</ref> Van Buren chose to do nothing and ride out the crisis, which led to a downfall in his popularity, and his being given the nickname "Martin Van Ruin". |