Posted on 01/11/2005 6:57:16 AM PST by Valin
Alexander Hamilton was one of the most influential of the United States' founding fathers. As the first secretary of the treasury he placed the new nation on a firm financial footing, and although his advocacy of strong national government brought him into bitter conflict with Thomas Jefferson and others, his political philosophy was ultimately to prevail in governmental development. Hamilton's own career was terminated prematurely when he was killed in a duel with Aaron Burr in 1804.
~ Early Life ~
Hamilton was born on the West Indian island of Nevis, probably in 1755. Since he was the illegitimate son of Rachel Fawcett Lavien and James Hamilton, both of West Indian trading families, his exact birth date and the circumstances of his early life are difficult to determine. Modern research has established, however, that he was probably not born in 1757, as he and his children supposed; that he spent his youth mostly on the island of Saint Croix apprenticed as a clerk; and that in 1772 he was sent to New York City by his guardian, the merchant Nicholas Cruger.
Hamilton was obviously precocious, and his guardian sought to enroll him in the College of New Jersey at Princeton. When refused permission there to accelerate his program of studies, he enrolled instead at King's College (now Columbia University), New York City, in 1773 or 1774. In 1774-75, when he was not yet 20, he entered the growing dispute between the American colonies and the British government by writing many fervent tracts filled with doctrines of rebellion and natural rights derived from the philosopher John Locke.
Hamilton's bent, however, was toward action, so he enlisted in the militia and fought in the battles around New York City in 1775 and 1776. His zeal and organizing ability brought him to George Washington's attention and led to a commission, in March 1777, as lieutenant colonel in the Continental Army and aide-de-camp to its commander. He served with Washington for four years. Though admired as a superb staff officer, Hamilton longed for a field command, which he achieved in time to lead a regiment of New York troops at the Battle of Yorktown in October 1781.
Hamilton's personal life and social position in the new nation took a decisive turn in December 1780, when he married Elizabeth Schuyler, daughter of the wealthy and influential General Philip Schuyler. This connection placed Hamilton in the center of New York society. In 1782, shortly after leaving the army, he was admitted to legal practice in New York and became assistant to Robert Morris (1734-1806), who was then superintendent of finance. Well before his 30th birthday, then, Hamilton had had a distinguished military career, knew intimately most of the leaders of the American Revolution, had achieved high social standing, and was recognized as one of the leading lawyers in the country.
~ The Constitution and Federalism ~
Elected a member of the Continental Congress in 1782, Hamilton at once became a leading proponent of a stronger national government than that provided for by the Articles of Confederation. As aide to Washington he had observed the debilitating effect of "an uncontrollable sovereignty in each state" and called repeatedly for a strengthened Congress and more efficient executive departments. As a New York delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, he advocated a national government that would have virtually abolished the states and even called for a president-for-life to provide energetic leadership. He left the convention at the end of June, but he approved the Constitution subsequently drafted by his colleagues as preferable to the Articles, though it was not as strong as he wished it to be.
With John Jay and James Madison, Hamilton wrote a series of papers (published in book form as The Federalist, 1788) urging the people of New York to ratify the new constitution. His brilliant essays on the need for a stronger union, the utility of a national taxing power, and the importance of the executive and judicial branches of the federal government became classic statements of his political philosophy of strong leadership in the public interest. At the New York ratifying convention of June-July 1788, Hamilton and his allies defeated the previously dominant antifederal forces in the state.
Hamilton was the obvious choice to be the first secretary of the treasury under the new constitution. Holding this office from Sept. 11, 1789, to Jan. 31, 1795, he proved himself a brilliant administrator both in organizing the Treasury Department and in assisting generally to set guidelines for and staff all the departments of government. Most notably, however, he sent reports to Congress on the public credit and on the national bank. Hamilton argued that if the nation was to grow and prosper, its credit would have to be sound to encourage both foreign and domestic investment.
~ Secretary of the Treasury ~
He proposed, therefore, to pay the nation's debts in full and also to assume the unpaid debts of the various states. He urged this candidly as a means of both diminishing the fiscal importance of the states and cementing the loyalty of wealthy commercial interests to the federal government. With the nation's economy thus buttressed and biased toward commerce, Hamilton proposed that a national bank be established to help the federal government manage the nation's trade and finance. These proposals were accepted by Congress, and the Bank of the United States was chartered in 1791. His recommendations for a broad range of tariffs and bounties to stimulate the growth of manufacturing were not adopted at this time, however.
Hamilton's plans were so comprehensive and so brilliantly useful to commercial expansion that he aroused the opposition of Madison, Jefferson, and others who believed that such a strong government, informally allied as it was with the worldwide trading dominance of Great Britain, would subordinate agriculture and subvert the republican ideals of the American Revolution. Scorning the Jeffersonians as timid and backward-looking, Hamilton, with Washington's continuing support, organized a congressional majority for his policies.
He then took the lead in urging rapprochement with Great Britain, which culminated in Jay's Treaty (1794), and in firmly suppressing the so-called Whiskey Rebellion (1794), which was provoked by his excise taxes. By the time he retired from the Treasury Department in 1795, he had established the administrative and policy foundations of the new government, articulated a philosophy of "loose construction" of the Constitution, and founded, informally, the conservative Federalist Party as the instrument of his intentions.
~ Later Years ~
On leaving the government Hamilton resumed a busy and lucrative law practice. He continued to have a strong influence in the public councils, however. He supported a defiant posture toward France during the XYZ Affair (1798), and as inspector general of the army (1798-1800) he took charge of organizing the nation's defenses. Bitterly disappointed in President John Adam's erratic leadership, Hamilton openly opposed Adams's reelection in 1800. When it appeared, however, that Aaron Burr might win the presidency over Jefferson, Hamilton unhesitatingly threw his support to Jefferson, whose policies he scorned, rather than to Burr, whom he regarded as a man without principles.
This and other opposition by Hamilton so frustrated and angered Burr that he challenged Hamilton to a duel. The two men fought at Weehawken, N.J., on July 11, 1804. Hamilton apparently fired into the air, but Burr took direct aim. Hamilton fell mortally wounded and died the next day in New York. He was buried in Trinity churchyard, New York City. He left his wife and seven children heavily in debt, but friends soon paid off the debts. Hamilton was mourned by his countrymen as one who had devoted his life to the nation's growth in freedom and prosperity.
Apparently your knowledge of banking is as deficient as your knowledge of history since you demonstate incomprehension as to the origin, history or working of central banking and a distinct preference for mythology and error.
Nor is that ignorance balanced by understanding of financial history. Such a combination makes your comments of little interest to those with some knowledge of the aforementioned subjects.
I am sure the paranoid appreciate them though.
Sad. My younger boy was educated in a private church run school and I see no superiority in his education over that of his brother who attended public schools. Though I realize the hatred voiced by a clique here attempts to drown out positive comments about public schools.
Uh, Yap is a real place in the South Pacific. It is a former territory of the U.S., and is now part of the nation of Micronesia.
So....according to these history books, I'm no longer a matter of myth and conjecture???!!
Adams mistaken kept Washington's cabinet which was completely under the sway of Hamilton and consulted him on every important issue. This was not known by Adams until the last year of his presidency and its discovery refueled the hatred and resentment he had for Hamilton for manuvering to make sure Washington was not tied with Adams in the Electoral College by suggesting some electors vote for someone other than Adams. Adams was so vain that he believed he was as worthy of the post as Washington.
His disdain for Hamilton was reciprocated as the latter believed the former to be "an old woman" incapable of making a firm decision and standing by it.
In that day egoism was called "honor" and every man defended his at the cost of his life on occasion.
Alexander Hamilton was also against slavery in the new American which would make him a man consistent with his beliefs.
Boudicca is getting nervous.
:0)
-good Thames, G.J.P.(Jr.)
Yeah, but who's going to clean out all of those Molly pitchers?
Excellent book recommendation...
Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
Social historian Nash ( Forging Freedom , LJ 5/1/88) presents three essays and supporting annotated documents dealing with the neglected topic of slavery during the Revolutionary era. He argues convincingly that most Revolutionary leaders understood the incompatibility of slavery with their equalitarian ideology. Unlike past historians, Nash especially blames Northern leaders, who were unwilling to compensate Southern slaveholders or to accept a biracial America, for the persistence of slavery at a time when it most easily could have been abolished. He contends that free blacks adapted to Northern discrimination by creating alternative organizations, especially black churches, which safeguarded an African-American identity and maintained abolitionist fervor. Relying upon recent scholarship, the author provides an insightful, well-written investigation which will appeal to scholars and the general public.
- David Szatmary, Univ. of Washington, Seattle
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Product Description:
The most profound crisis of conscience for white Americans at the end of the eighteenth century became their most tragic failure. "Race and Revolution" is a trenchant study of the revolutionary generation's early efforts to right the apparent contradiction of slavery and of their ultimate compromises that not only left the institution intact but provided it with the protection of a vastly strengthened government after 1788. Reversing the conventional view that blames slavery on the South's social and economic structures, Nash stresses the role of the northern states in the failure to abolish slavery. It was northern racism and hypocrisy as much as southern intransigence that buttressed "the peculiar institution." Nash also shows how economic and cultural factors intertwined to result not in an apparently judicious decision of the new American nation but rather its most significant lost opportunity. "Race and Revolution" describes the free black community's response to this failure of the revolution's promise, its vigorous and articulate pleas for justice, and the community's successes in building its own African-American institutions within the hostile environment of early nineteenth-century America. Included with the text of "Race and Revolution" are nineteen rare and crucial documents--letters, pamphlets, sermons, and speeches--which provide evidence for Nash's controversial and persuasive claims. From the words of Anthony Benezet and Luther Martin to those of Absalom Jones and Caesar Sarter, readers may judge the historical record for themselves. "In reality," argues Nash, "the American Revolution represents the largest slave uprising in our history." "Race and Revolution" is the compelling story of that failed quest for the promise of freedom.
Yap is an island which used gigantic stone disks as money (six feet in diameter and weighing hundreds of pounds in some cases.) It is an example of "hard money" so beloved by those who don't understand finance, history or economics.
Apparently you are unaware of the forces which led to the creation of the Federal Reserve or that eastern bankers fought its creation for decades until swamped by the panic of 1907 mistaken believed by the KnowNothings as being "engineered" by devious bankers. Why don't you review those forces (beginning about 1875) and get back to me?
The Fed's role in the Depression was disastrous but its incompetence was matched all around the government. Roosevelt's first inclination was to raise taxes to lower the deficit. Congress had initiated a Trade War with Smoot-Hawley.
Losing that battle is no more an argument against the Fed than losing Bull Run was an argument against defeating the Slavers.
Plus, it has the added advantage of being very short.
:)
-good times, G.J.P.(Jr.)
If your "teaching" is as inaccessible as your link no one will miss you.
Sounds like some high comedy there. Does the prefesser follow up this tome with one showing how the Jews were behind Adolf Hitler next?
For the complete story of Hamilton, one of the Nation's greatest heros and Founders, be sure to read Ron Chernow's wonderful biography, "Alexander Hamilton." It is a terrific book and an eye opener about the Founders and their problems with each other. Both Jefferson and Madison were his enemies and did really awful stuff in the press to undermine Hamilton (sorta like Kerry vs. Bush, maybe?). Anyway, read it and be enlightened.
But a really cute myth...with great legs.
It's on my list. So many books so little time.
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