What was the name of the 1720 French speculative bubble built around John Law’s Mississippi Company?

The 1720 French speculative bubble built around John Law’s Mississippi Company was called the Mississippi Bubble.

John Law promoted the Compagnie d’Occident, later known as the Mississippi Company, as a vehicle for exploiting French territories in North America. The company also received control over tax collection and other commercial privileges, while Law’s bank issued paper money that helped fuel share purchases.

Share prices rose spectacularly in 1719 and early 1720. Investors crowded into Paris, attracted by stories of American riches, but the company’s real profits could not support the valuations. Confidence in the paper currency and shares then collapsed, producing a rush to sell.

The Mississippi Bubble burst in the same year as Britain’s South Sea Bubble. They are often mentioned together, but they were separate French and British schemes. The crisis damaged Law’s reputation and forced him to flee France.