America Turns 250: 5 Lesser-Known Moments That Built the Accounting Profession
Happy 250th, America — and happy birthday to the accounting profession that grew up alongside it.
To celebrate the Semiquincentennial, CPAClub’s Drew Carrick breaks down five pivotal but under-the-radar moments in U.S. accounting history — from the surprising origins of the CPA designation to the Senate vote that ended a century of self-regulation.
These aren’t the textbook milestones. These are the ones that actually shaped how the profession operates today.
00:00 — Introduction
00:30 — 1887: America’s accounting profession was founded by the British
01:15 — 1896: The first CPA never took the exam
02:00 — 1913: Lawyers passed on income tax work — and accountants owned it
02:45 — 1934: Before the SEC, GAAP didn’t exist
03:30 — 2002: SOX passed 99-0 and ended 100 years of self-regulation
04:15 — What the next 250 years looks like
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