There was a document, and here is a section to start with since you have "no idea":

"13. Advances to Individuals, Partnerships, and Corporations on Obligations of United States Subject to such limitations, restrictions and regulations as the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System may prescribe, any Federal reserve bank may make advances to any individual, partnership or corporation on the promissory notes of such individual, partnership or corporation secured by direct obligations of the United States or by any obligation which is a direct obligation of, or fully guaranteed as to principal and interest by, any agency of the United States. Such advances shall be made for periods not exceeding 90 days and shall bear interest at rates fixed from time to time by the Federal reserve bank, subject to the review and determination of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System."

So grep for "obligation" and let's nail what precisely an "obligation of the United States" means. It seems it is something valuable and here we find out it involves a "principle and interest".

Next, we will find out the ways in which these "obligations of the United States" materialize and there we encounter the word "liability" of the said lenders, the creators of money.

"Federal reserve notes, to be issued at the discretion of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for the purpose of making advances to Federal reserve banks through the Federal reserve agents as hereinafter set forth and for no other purpose, are authorized. The said notes shall be obligations of the United States and shall be receivable by all national and member banks and Federal reserve banks and for all taxes, customs, and other public dues. They shall be redeemed in lawful money on demand at the Treasury Department of the United States, in the city of Washington, District of Columbia, or at any Federal Reserve bank."

So how much does it cost you, if you are an American and subject to the reach of the IRS, when these "obligations" materialize at the direction of the board of Federal Reserve?

"Principal and interest" obligations of the United States for which reason you are taxed on any use of the said 'notes' -- whether you earn it, spend it, invest it, ... -- so that Uncle Sam gets to pay back the "principle and interest" to the "share holders" of the Federal Reserve Bank.

This is has to be the sweetest scam ever in recorded human history (unless you want to include what Joseph did to the poor Egyptians ;). Genesis 47:13 onward. It is short and to the point.

http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0147.htm#13

It worked then, it works now.

(p.s. The "famines" were the engineered crashes of the 19th and early 20th century America.)

Then Joseph said unto the people: 'Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh. Lo, here is [Federal Reserve Notes] for you, and ye shall [partake of economic activity in] the land:

http://www.federalreserve.gov/aboutthefed/fract.htm

[edit: added link]