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Essays on alexander hamilton
The importance of federalism in united states
Alexander hamilton importance to u.s. history
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Alexander Hamilton was a founding father who was an immigrant that came to the United States in search of new opportunities. He quickly became involved in many events that would shape this new land in a way that no one would have expected. This man did not have anything or anyone when he arrived in America but that did not stop him or his ideals from quickly spreading. Alexander Hamilton was essential to the development of the United States, without his contributions the American people would be at a loss today.
Hamilton came to the United States with a plan and he would do what he needed to see that plan succeed. He was a federalist and believed in a strong central government. Hamilton became General Washington’s assistant in 1777. He was
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Hamilton married into a wealthy family and was ready to begin his life with his new and loving bride. Hamilton would have four children with Elizabeth whose names were; Philip, Eliza, Angelica, and john.
Hamilton was determined that the United States should have a national bank. The bank would assume states debs and would help establish a more financial system that would be more dependable then the one they currently had. The anti-federalist were not for the national bank because they did not see how it would help them, seeing as the south did not have much debt due to the slave labor. After much dispute between the federalist and the anti-federalist the bill was finally passed to establish the national bank in February 1791.
Once the national bank was established Hamilton also helped to established the currency and recommend the decimal system based on tens. Because of Hamilton’s suggestion Congress was able to adopt the mint act of 1792 leading to a better established system of
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She came to him in a desperate attempt for him to help her for her husband, James Reynolds, had mistreated and abandoning her. Maria Reynolds wanted to return home to New York where she was originally from so she could seek shelter with her family. Hamilton did not have the money with him to help her but insisted that he would bring it by her house later. Later that evening Hamilton arrived at her house. Once the two were alone they committed fornication. Mrs. Hamilton was away on vacation with her father and children. The love affair between Hamilton and Mrs. Reynolds went on for about a summer until her husband returned home and demanded Hamilton pay him a sum for money for the pain that he caused Mr. Reynolds.
Hamilton paid the sum demanded of him by Mr. Reynolds but this caused speculation on him due to the amount being unaccounted for in the financial records. Hamilton had to answer for the missing amount and showed his superiors the letters he received from Mr. Reynolds coercing him to pay the money. Afraid that the matter would be found out to the public Hamilton wrote a letter apologizing and explaining the situation to clear his name so he was able to pursue his career and the
·Hamilton’s plan to establish a permanent national debt violated the principle of equality among citizens; it seemed to favor the interests of public creditors over those of other Americans. Hamilton’s critics also denounced his proposal for a national band, interpreting it as a dangerous scheme that would give a small, elite group special power to influence the government.
Alexander Hamilton met George Washington when he was his secretary of treasury. George Washington used him to help with his army that he had. When Alexander Hamilton helped George Washington he realized America was really finacial under.Alexander Hamilton didn’t like the fact the United States were in debt so he decided to make a banking system to get America out of debt. With the help of George Washington, Alexander Hamilton set up a national banking system in major cities across the United States.
Finally, Alexander Hamilton’s views on government were better for what the United States would become. Hamilton’s views on government were better for what the United States would become because he was a Federalist and believed in a strong central government. Also because of the way he viewed national debt, and the way he viewed foreign affairs. These are all ways that prove Alexander Hamilton’s views on government were better for what the United States would
Alexander Hamilton wanted to promote commerce and industry through a strong central government. He also would diversify American economic life by encouraging shipping and creating manufacturing through legislative directives. Hamilton also believed that a republican style of government could only succeed by the direction of a governing class.
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
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
From the meager beginnings of a bastard child born out of wedlock, to one man heralding the power of friendship to the most powerful man in an early republic, Alexander Hamilton proved that what would come to be known as the American dream can be realized by anyone. Native or not; rich or poor; with the drive to realize your dreams, you can achieve them. Hamilton made great advances toward what we know as America today and left behind a legacy that has too commonly become forgotten.
Through supporting tariffs on foreign goods, Hamilton supported economic infrastructure, and advocated a nationally directed, controlled economy, in the interest of foreign enterprise (Morris 130). Hamilton clearly envisioned the nation's potential as an economic power, and took great impetus in shaping economic infrastructure. Of the many figures in American history, Alexander Hamilton has proven himself one of the most versatile and influential. His policies and ideals have helped the United States blossom into a prosperous world power.
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.
Going hand in hand with his detestation of large, extremely controlling national governments, Jefferson was intent on having no national bank present in the US, but Hamilton was certain the country would benefit from one. For example, in a personal letter written by Alexander Hamilton, he wrote, “Mr. Madison, co-operating with Mr. Jefferson, is at the head of a faction, decidedly hostile to me, and my administration; and actuated by views... subversive of the principals of good government, and dangerous to the Union... Mr. Jefferson... [displays] his dislike of... funding [the] debt.” (Doc 2) Hamilton implied that by not advocating a national bank, Jefferson did not want to help the country pay off its debt. Jefferson, however, was dead set against having a national bank because he wanted the common people, such as the farmers, to have maximum influence on the government. This way, a strong central government could not have supreme political, economic, and social power, all of which together would open the doors for future corruption, even if the government was set up in the manner directed in the Constitution. Jefferson defended this judgement to the extent that he formed a political party so it could develop into a well-supported suggestion. Thus, the perspective on national banks could more efficiently progress into the point where it impacted the whole country and prevented the formation of a national bank. Equally, the excise tax proposed by Alexander Hamilton and carried out by Congress, factored in on Hamilton and Jefferson’s feud on having a national bank. In a letter written by Thomas Jefferson, he manifested his reaction to the excise tax by commenting, “The excise tax is an infernal one... [the public’s]
Both Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton were prominent members of society during the era after the revolution. Yet while these two men came from similar backgrounds and both believed in liberty and independence, neither of the two men could stand each other. This was mainly due to the fact that the two men had radically different views on various subjects, and neither was willing to give up or alter their view. Alexander Hamilton, one of the most important people of the time, was the first Secretary of the Treasury. Utilising federal power to modernize the nation, he convinced Congress to use an elastic interpretation of the Constitution to pass laws that Jefferson deemed unconstitutional.
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.
The idea was that it would lure manufacturers and consumers into the country, increasing trade and profit. Although his religious affiliations were unclear and unattached to any specific religion, he said that, “Unreasonable religion was dangerous, and reason unmarked by religious morality was anarchic”. This means that although his religious opinions differed, he was open to engaging with others who were guided by their beliefs. As mentioned earlier, Hamilton co-authored the Federalist Papers, in which he promoted his beliefs and the ratification of the Constitution. He believed greatly in the establishment of a national bank and the separation of powers, as suggested by the line, “Congress [should] do nothing more than recommended”. He argued that Congress alone must have the power to declare war, create an army, coin and distribute money, make alliances, and appoint leaders. This supports his Federalist views as the centralization of these powers would increase nationalism within the states and a greater sense of unity. Justification for this lies in the quote, “It is that the common sovereign will not have the power sufficient to unite the different members together, and direct the common forces to the interest and happiness of the whole.” Hamilton believed that the people needed a strong central government to guide their needs and freedoms
Alexander Hamilton was disliked by many people but, he is now popular because of a hit Broadway show created by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Hamilton was born on January 11, 1755 or 1757 in Charleston, Nevis in the British West Indies. He was abandoned by his father which made him an orphan at the age of 13. Hamilton started attending school in Elizabethtown, New Jersey but, plans changed, and he entered Kings College. At the age of 17 he was already interested in government. Later, in 1776 he was introduced to George Washington. He became Washington’s advisor not long after that. Some main events that changed Hamilton’s life were his family, his accomplishments, and George Washington.