Alexander Hamilton was born on the island of Nevis of the British West Indies January eleventh in 1757. He lived with his brother and a single mother. In 1772, Hamilton moved to the United states. He entered the Continental Army in 1776 as the captain of artillery while in New York where he also studied law at King’s College. He was married to Elizabeth Schuyler in 1780. Elizabeth was from a wealthy land holding family, this helped Alexander hold ties to rich and powerful leaders in New York. Alexander Hamilton died in 1804 on July 12. Aaron Burr was the man who killed him in a duel because Mr. Hamilton help Thomas Jefferson win the election for becoming the 3rd president of the United States.
Hamilton was President Washington’s Secretary of the Treasury in the Cabinet in 1789-1795. The first task that Hamilton took care of for President Washington, was the problem of public credit. Since the government had taken on so much debt during the Revolution they deeded a plan to pay it all off. When proposing this idea the vow to pay them back was not taken very seriously. Toward the end of the 1780s, the state IOU's, or money borrowed to finance the Revolution, were seen as nearly valueless. Hamilton then issued a bold proposal that the federal government should pay off all the state’s debts at face value. To raise money for this, Hamilton offered to issue new securities bonds. The people who bought these would pay a huge profit.
Alexander was also requested to create a national currency system. He proposed to the Bank of the United States that a central bank would help the new nation's economic change through a more secure paper currency. By the end, with support from the president, the bank was leased with its first command post in P...
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...tes would never be seen as a stable and reliable nation. To pay off the debts Hamilton designed to raise taxes throughout the country. And when the capital moved from Philadelphia to New York City, Hamilton offered to convince Congress and the President to move the capitol south to an appointed area near Virginia now known as District of Columbia.
Works Cited
Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Ron Chernow, n.d. Web. 16
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U.S. History. Independence Hall Association of Philadelphia, n.d. Web. 16 Feb.
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US History. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2014. brandywine/special/art08.htm>. Spark Notes. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2014.
biography/hamilton/section7.rhtml>.
Hamilton believed in a strong central government and to acquire this, wealth was the key. He wanted to make the United States rich in order for it to become a very powerful government. Hamilton learned first hand what it is like to earn a living, and that is why he believed, that wealth was the foundation in building a strong nation. He felt that those with wealth, merchants known now as businessman, would launch the U.S. into wealth and power. He also believed that with wealth came knowledge. When Hamilton started his journey as Secretary of Treasury, he was faced with many difficulties; The National Debt was such an obstacle. However, he considered it a necessary one, “A national debt, if it is not excessive, will be to us a national blessing. It will be a powerful cement of our Union.” (From Thomas Jefferson to James Duane September 3, 1781) He felt the utmost importance in paying off all of our debts. This was significant in order to build exemplary credit and creating our first National Bank, the Bank of the United States. On the other hand, Jefferson’s idea of America was one built by farmers and not merchants. He thought the only person who was truly free were indeed the farmers. In a letter he says, “I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.” (From Thomas Jefferson to Archibald Stuart December
The federalist versus anti-federalist opposition to begin the political differences. Federalists were a group of people who pushed for a strong central government and weak state governments, while anti-federalists were a group of people who pushed for power in the states and not the central government. Hamilton, a Federalist, was a firm believer in the construction of a strong central government and a broad interpretation of the Constitution. A broad interpretation of the Constitution meant more government control of the people. Hamilton believed that if a government were to operate efficiently, it would have to be conducted by the educated. Although at the time period, being educated was an expectation for only white men and a limitation for men of color and women. Through Hamilton’s position as being the Secretary of the Treasury, he was able to propose the idea of a national bank. His proposition of the bank was to serve as a way to help America back onto its feet after the Revolutionary War.The bank would regulate currency, help control the American currency, and prevent any singular group from having the most power. According to the Necessary and Proper Clause located in article 1, section 8, clause 18 of the United States Constitution, Hamilton believed the government had the implied powers to use it in order to help and protect the American people.Not only would the bank
In the initial stages of independence, the United States was still a weak and vulnerable country. Thus, it was necessary to implement plans that not only had the goal of a bright future, but would help the United States survive to that point. Due to the countries weak state, and his influential position atop the United States treasury, Hamilton was able to implement most of his economic policies. The biggest of which were his consolidation of international and domestic debt and creating a national bank. Republics were seen as weak back then, they very rarely succeeded and the U.S. was already in a vulnerable state because of the revolutionary war. Hamilton’s national bank and centralized government was a good idea in this aspect because it not only would create a sense of unification and power among the U.S. but it also put foreign debts first, which was
Everyone has heard the name Alexander Hamilton, but few are familiar with his views and actions regarding the survival of the young American republic. He could be recognized for anything from serving our fledgling country by fighting in the New York militia; to serving his community as a lawyer and as a national tax agent; to beginning his political career as a representative for New York at the National Congress. Though most would agree his most important contribution to our struggling republic was to spearhead the project which formed the doctrine helping to establish the foundation in which modern democracy is based, the Articles of Confederation.
During the American Revolutionary War, all of the states had incurred a lot of debt from other foreign nations. So Hamilton decided that America must pay back this debt so that they could maintain peace and regulate commerce with European countries. The southern states had paid off their debt but the northern states were still in debt. So he composed a compromise - The south would not protest the Federal government paying off any northern states that still had debt, in the condition that the south chose where the national capital would be built. This compromise worked as the entire United States debt was paid off and the capital was constructed in the District of Columbia (DC) within a few years. In the construction of the capital, Maryland and Virginia donated land for the capital. The importance of this plan was that they had no debt, so this would bring power and respect to the United States from the European countries by keeping peace with everybody and allowing for continued trade. Because who would trade with a country that has debt with
Alexander Hamilton remains to be one of America’s most important people. Not only was he the first secretary of the treasury of the United States, he also was one of America’s founding fathers. Hamilton believed that a strong central government should rest on a solid financial foundation. The creation of the first national bank was to support this idea. He also served in the American army under George Washington. Hamilton also had established good relations with the British which resulted in foreign trade. “He conceived and started “The Federalist” and wrote most of those famous essays which riveted the attention of the country, furnished the weapons of argument and exposition to those who "thought continentally" in all the states, and did more than any thing else toward the adoption of the constitution.”(virtualology, paragraph 20) Hamilton created a system of tariffs which was believed to help relieve national and state debts. He then became the leader of the federalist party. Alexander Hamilton had many accomplishments in his life as a result of many various factors. But the most important trait that Hamilton possessed was his ambition
One of the earliest examples of Hamilton’s power was his role in the national assumption of state debts. After the Revolutionary War, individual states had varying amounts of debt. States with less debt were in favor of paying it off themselves, while those with greater debt needed some federal aid. Wanting to make the country more unified, Hamilton saw making a large collective national debt as a way to bring together the states. “Hamilton’s impulse, therefore, in assuming all outstanding state debts was to avoid unnecessary and destructive competition between state and federal governments, and at the same time to preempt the best sources of revenue for the United States Treasury” (Elkins and McKitrick 119). The author states Hamilton’s motives for assumption were to eliminate competition between the states that might damage the union. This fits in with his larger policy of strong national government. Other politicians were opposed to this, such as Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Their opposition to the plan went away as assumption became associated with other less controversial plans of Hamilton’s. Madison even turned in defense of the plan after being convinced of Hamilton’s financial vision (Bowers 61). Hamilton made a compromise turning out in his favor when he allowed Madison and Jefferson to have a capital on the Potomac River. This allowed him to pass his plan more...
Alexander Hamilton was born an illegitimate child in 1755 in the West Indies to a financially struggling family (Alexander Hamilton, n.d., para. 2). He did not receive his formal education until he was sponsored by family friends who were impressed by his ambition. He chose a military career and served as George Washington’s secretary and aid. After the revolutionary war, he became a lawyer, served Congress, and founded the Bank of New York. He was also the first secretary of the Treasury. Hamilton had no faith in common people and wanted to control them, “In the general course of human nature, a power over a man's subsistence amounts to a power over his will” (brainquote.com, 2011, p.1).
Alexander Hamilton was born a bastard child in the West Indies and demonstrated great intellectual potential at an early age. He was sent to New York City for schooling and studied at King’s College, now Columbia University. His vision of America took a more capitalistic tone and “he was determined to transform an economically weak and fractious cluster of states into a powerful global force” (Tindall & Shi, 2010). Hamilton advocated a strong central government. He was bold and persuasive and his philosophies quite extraordinary for his time.
Alexander Hamilton was a bastard son, orphan, immigrant, political scientist, soldier, and the first Secretary of the Treasury of the United States of America who transformed not only the country’s banking system but also left a rich legacy that changed America forever. A forgotten founding father, he wrote his way out of poverty at fourteen and later became George Washington’s aide-de-camp and a respected soldier before becoming apart of the first cabinet of the United States. Hamilton not only had a notorious political career, but also personal life, which captivated Americans and heavily influenced his career. Alexander Hamilton’s early life, revolutionary years, years in public service and the cabinet as well as his scandal and devastating
This narrative is a very brief look on the life of how Alexander Hamilton was able to shape the new country through hard work, superior intellect, and persuasion. If nothing less, Alexander Hamilton is the absolute definition of an American; he proves that hard work and dedication can make one rise to a very influential position. The ten brief chapters are chronologically ordered to give this biography a story-time feel; each chapter documents a very specific time in his life.
Chernow also mentions, in his biography about Hamilton, that, “Because many Americans still bartered, Hamilton wanted to encourage the use of coins. As part of his campaign to foster a market economy, Hamilton suggested introducing a wide variety of coins, including gold and silver dollars, a ten-cent silver piece, and copper coins of a cent or half cent. He wasn’t just thinking of rich people; small coins would benefit the poor “by enabling them to purchase in small portions and at a more reasonable rate the necessaries of which they stand in need” (356). It would seem that he always had the common good in the forefront of his mind. The first national bank was established so that the government had a bank to utilize, but it was ultimately used to unify currency and the way in which everyone received currency. National banks and a unified currency were crucial in keeping a strong central government as well as a market
Alexander Hamilton was a founding father of the United States of America. He fought alongside George Washington in the American Revolution as lieutenant colonel, plighting to secure the freedoms of many colonists. He was also equally proficient in writing and debate. Hamilton wrote The Federalist Papers alsongside John Jay and James Madison and served on the Continental Congress, being among those who signed the Constitution. Due to many of his accomplishments, Hamilton’s death affected the United States in various ways some of which included economics, foreign affairs, politics, and conspiracy.
Alexander was the founding father of the united states. He had a tough childhood since he was a orphan and his town was hit by a hurricane. But that didn't stop him, rathered help him pursue his education. Hamilton had an extraordinary career consisting of him being apart of the Revolutionary war;fighting for American independence. George Washington was his right hand man appointing hamilton to secretary of the treasury because of his political skills. His life also had it's down moments he was married to Elizabeth Schuyler but cheated with Angelica. Alexander faced many ups and downs in his life from meeting a political partner George Washington to having trouble with relationships with women, but all helped him progress to success.
Have you ever wonder the portrait on US ten dollar’s bill? What’s the significant of it? It is the portrait of a great person Alexander Hamilton; the first secretary of treasury. He was born in January 11, 1755 and illegitimate son of a Scottish merchant in the West Indies. At the age of 11 he had his first job at the tender. In 1773, he moved to New York to study yet, he was more involved in politics than academics. Furthermore, when the American Revolutionary War began in 1775 he joined military. After the War America has faced national debt issues. Later, at the age of thirty-two Hamilton was elected as a representative to the Congress of the Confederation under President Washington. Washington also put him on domestic and foreign policy. Hamilton was not happy with the Articles of Confederation and the weak central government. As a result, he wanted to strengthen the power of the national Government. On January 14, 1790 Hamilton made a report on the public credit and sent it to Congress. On his report, he proposed three things. First, he wanted to redeem the old debt by issuing new bonds. Then his plan was to undertake the state revolutionary debt. Hamilton's final proposal was that he wanted to fix the debt problem by adding state debt and to establish the nation’s credits. Hence, he created a national bank to land and to borrow and store money. In a