Alexander Hamilton began his life as a young boy living in the British West Indies. At the age of 11, Hamilton began working tirelessly to provide for his family. With time and experience, Hamilton started working with international commerce and slave trade. His boss, Hugh Knox, recognized his ambition and decided to send him to America. Hamilton attended King’s college, other known as Columbia University, and became more involved in politics. When the Revolutionary war came about, Hamilton defended the Patriots against the Loyalists: this was his first political article written. In this moment is when he gained respect from militant leaders like George Washington. Hamilton then became a part of the New York Provincial Artillery Company and fought in the war. Later, Washington appointed Hamilton as the first Secretary of Treasury. As Hamilton understands of law and politics grew, he decided to pursue a goal of his: establishing a more diverse government under the new Constitution. During the process of achieving the goal, he attended the Constitutional Convention. Here, Hamilton spoke out on behalf of his ideas and beliefs.
Did you know that the only non-presidents on US paper currency are Benjamin Franklin and Alexander Hamilton? However, Alexander Hamilton has more to do with American political history than you may realize. He changed the way the American government works and how it continues to work to this day. Hamilton lived an influential life, he had a rough childhood but was able to overcome it and rise to great things. Alexander Hamilton is an important historical figure.
Both men went head to head about what was best for the United States. Hamilton was for a strong central government, different areas of work to help provide for the country and he thought that the nation need a bank. Hamilton favored a strong central government and wanted to
Alexander Hamilton was an American statesman and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, though he never became president. He promoted the U.S. Constitution, as well as founding nation 's financial system, the Federalist Party, the United States Coast Guard, and The New York Post newspaper. As the first Secretary of the Treasury, Hamilton wrote most of the economic policies of the George Washington administration. He fought the Democratic-Republican Party led by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. They criticized Hamilton for being too friendly toward Britain and to monarchy in
The beginning of the United States brought together a variety of competing ideas and interests. It was a time of wide-scale conflict not only in the revolutionary realm, but the political sphere as well. In no two people is this better exemplified than Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson. Yet despite their differences, it is arguable that both of them made equal contributions to the country which they helped create. (1) Hamilton’s hardworking nature and can-do attitude became the driving force behind his varied amount of accomplishments.
Even though Hamilton wasn’t one of our presidents, he showed great leadership throughout his terms in the secretary of treasury, he practiced law after the wars, and he also showed leadership being one of our Founding Fathers (who were responsible winning our wars against England.) After Hamilton was drafted for the Constitutional Convention by New Year, Hamilton got to attend a meeting in Philadelphia. While Alexander was in Philadelphia he had little to no impact on the convention because he didn’t fully represent New York. Even though Hamilton didn’t represent the Federalist (who strongly opponents to sign the new constitution), Hamilton signed the new constitution as an individual. Then after Hamilton signed the for the new constitution, he got to write “at least two-thirds of the essays” that included some of the most important ones that would explain the powers of each of the branches.
Perhaps it would be wise of any politician or American citizen, in a sense of personal responsibility, to study Hamilton’s words when looking to decide what the best course of action is in regards at least to taxation; to understand the time period of the writers and ascertain which aspects of their arguments were useful only to the issues of the time, and which were inspired by historical patterns and have continued to hold true to this day. It is of great importance to understand our history, not just to keep from repeating mistakes, but to understand what has allowed our government, created in a time so different from the present, to continue to, for the most part, successfully keep America as a world power and how to use this knowledge to help us modify and improve our situation. This social responsibility, placed upon our generation specifically, is one of figuring out how to alleviate current issues while keeping in mind that any new implementations will have to account for a rapidly changing future. By studying how men like Hamilton achieved this in the past, we improve greatly our chances of succeeding right
Alexander Hamilton was a major part in the making of the United States of America. Firstly, He was George Washington’s protege during the Revolutionary War and and was part of the Continental Congress in 1782, 1783, and 1788 Secondly, He was the first Secretary of the Treasury in the United States. Lastly, Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton got into a dispute from the election of 1801 and the standoff led to Alexander Hamilton killed on that day. In conclusion, Alexander Hamilton was a major part in the making of the United States of America.
After the Revolutionary War, American politicians had to figure out how to run the new country. Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson were two politicians in the Early Republic Era who greatly contributed to the shaping of the United States. Jefferson, a Democratic-Republican, and Hamilton, a Federalist, disagreed about almost every one of each other’s core beliefs about what the country should look like. Although Hamilton’s view of the Constitution largely influenced the U.S., Jefferson’s ideal economy and belief in a strong state government shaped the Early Republic more.
Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of Treasury of the United States, had a lot going for himself being a man that came from poverty to success, and he was a man “all powerful and fails at nothing which he attempts” admitted a congressman in 1791 (Tindall and Shi). Born in the Caribbean in the West Indies, abandoned by his father and orphaned at the age of 13 by his late mother who had died. Later moved to New York, became a lawyer and transitioned to nationalism thus giving him the important role of handling the weight of the debt America had accumulated $54 million deep after the Revolutionary War (Digital History). Hamilton saw the need for some financial credit to be given to America and he had the right idea by proposing a National Bank to his first president George Washington. Word dispersed of that proposal leading a
Hamilton vs. Jefferson Visions to Reality Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton both had very defined visions of the scope and power of the new federal government, how they saw the future of the economic development, and what the United States society should become. In my opinion Alexander Hamilton had more of an impact on the United States during the 1820’s and on contemporary government when compared to Thomas Jefferson. His policies did not strictly work during that time and many of his ideas are still seen in today’s society. Jefferson’s views and ideas on/of the national bank, higher tariffs, debt assumption, The Federalist Party, and his support of the ratification of the Constitution are all reasons in why his policies and visions came closer to becoming a reality. Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, molded the gatherings that provoked to the twofold party system under which the U.S. works today.
As newly appointed Secretary of Treasury, Federalist Alexander Hamilton devised complex policy to achieve economic dominance. Hamilton first intended to pay off its extensive Revolutionary way debts. He issued securities bonds for investors to purchase in the hopes of gaining profit for the United States. Hamilton’s policy also included the proposal of a Bank of the United States in order to make the nations economy dynamic through a more stable currency. Lastly Hamilton wanted the United States to embrace a mercantilist economic policy to protect American manufactures through high tariffs and government subsides.
He thought about voluntarily giving up the presidency in 1792, but with advice from his cabinet officers, he agreed to a second term (Ellis, 149). At the end of his first term, Washington asked James Madison to draft a valedictory address, because his two most trusted cabinet members, Hamilton and Jefferson, were deeply involved in partisan disputes (Ellis, 149). However, at the end of the second term, Washington called upon Hamilton to draft his address (Ellis, 150). Hamilton had Washington’s writing voice down pat, from writing correspondence for him during the Revolutionary War, and his draft read much the same as it would had Washington himself written it (Ellis,
While a literary device, tragic heroes also appear in real life. A perfect example of a real life tragic hero is Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury. This modern tragic hero started life as an orphan in poverty, living in the Caribbean, but his elevated character of exceptional literary skills, wit and progressive political ideas eventually landed him a spot as one of the most influential people in the United States. Alexander Hamilton had a positive hamartia, as he refused to remain quiet about the injustices of his country, oblivious to the danger it created for him and his family. The downfall of Hamilton occurred gradually. Because of many of his radical views, he gained a lot of opposition in both the Federalist and Democratic-Republican parties, and was forced to resign, yet still remained popular, with a greatly valued opinion (Brookhiser). Hamilton then lost his firstborn son (Phillip) in a duel when Phillip challenged George Eacker to uphold his father’s honor. And yet Hamilton refused to remain quiet and openly opposed Aaron Burr in the election of 1800, and worked against Burr again when the Vice President ran for New York governorship. In an attempt to heal his wounded pride, Aaron Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel, and the discredited Alexander Hamilton died the day after. (Foner). However, it is believed that Hamilton intentionally misdirected his shot, showing that he may have recognized his flaw in the end, redeeming himself in the eyes
President George Washington appointed Alexander Hamilton as the Treasury Secretary and Hamilton took it upon himself to develop an economic structure for the United States. Hamilton used a strategy of loose construction for the interpretation of the constitution.