Why Is Alexander Hamilton Important In American History

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Alexander Hamilton not only had one role in American history, but he had multiple roles. Alexander Hamilton was an important figure in American history. He was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, was George Washington’s right hand man, major author of the Federalists papers, was the first Secretary of the Treasury, and much more. Alexander Hamilton was born on the British West Indies Island of Nevis on January 11, 1757. His father abandoned his family when he was an infant, so they struggled to survive. Later on, Hamilton had a basic education. His mother died when he was young, so he was all alone and moved in with a cousin. His cousin committed suicide, so he had to be independent and “rise” by himself. In 1772, Alexander Hamilton moved to New York to continue studying. He later on enrolled at King's College in New York City, which is presently Columbia University. The Revolutionary war interrupted his studies, so he joined a volunteer militia. When the war came to New York, Hamilton was appointed as a captain of an artillery company. He participated in a few battles including the Battle of Long Island and the Battle of White Plains. At the Battle of Princeton, George Washington was impressed with …show more content…

He took and passed the bar exam and started practicing law in New York City. He opened his own office on Wall Street and started taking cases. He was one of the leading lawyers in the whole state. Some of his first clients were the Loyalists. The loyalists were the people who kept their loyalty to the King of England during the war. At the end of the war, many New York rebels returned to find their homes and businesses taken by Loyalists. The Trespass Act allowed these people to sue Loyalists for payment for the use of and damage to their property. Hamilton successfully defended the loyalists and eventually had the Trespass Act