Politicians: Alexander Hamilton
By Biography.com Editors and A+E Networks, adapted by Newsela staff on 11.08.16
Word Count 926
Alexander Hamilton Wikimedia Commons
Synopsis: Alexander Hamilton was born in 1755 or 1757 in the Caribbean. He later
became General George Washington's assistant and convinced New Yorkers to agree to
approve the U.S Constitution. He also served as the nation's first secretary of the treasury.
On July 12, 1804, Hamilton died of a gunshot wound from a duel with Aaron Burr.
Early Life
Founding father Alexander Hamilton was born circa January 11, 1755 or 1757 (the exact
date is unknown), on the island of Nevis in the British West Indies. Hamilton's parents were
Rachel Fawcett Lavien and James Hamilton, a Scottish trader.
Rachel met James when she ran away from her abusive husband. However, James
abandoned the family when Alexander was a boy, leaving them impoverished.
Hamilton took his first job at the age of 11. However, his family was soon dealt another sad
blow. His mother became ill and died in 1768.
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Working as an accounting clerk, Alexander Hamilton learned about the business of money
and trade. The bright and ambitious young lad quickly impressed his employer. Hamilton's
boss valued Hamilton so much that he collected money to send him to America for an
education.
In 1773, when he was around 16 years old, Hamilton arrived in New York, where he
enrolled in King's College (later renamed Columbia University). However, with the
American colonies on the brink of a revolution, Hamilton was drawn more to political
involvement than he was to academics.
Hamilton left King's College before graduating to join forces with the Patriots in their protest
of the British.
Military Career
In 1775, when the Revolutionary War began, Hamilton became a soldier and fought in
various battles.
General George Washington was impressed by Hamilton, and made him his assistant and
trusted adviser. For the next five years, Hamilton put his writing skills to work. He wrote
Washington's letters, and composed numerous reports about the army. Around the same
time, Hamilton married Elisabeth Schuyler, who was from a rich New York family.
Growing restless, in 1781, Hamilton convinced Washington to let him taste some action on
the battlefield. Hamilton led a victorious charge against the British in the Battle of Yorktown,
which would eventually lead to the end of the American Revolutionary War.
While serving as an adviser for George Washington, Hamilton had come to realize
Congress' weaknesses, including the resentment brewing between states. Hamilton
believed that establishing a strong central government was the key to America's
independence.
Law Career
Hamilton left his position as an adviser to George Washington to study law, soon setting up
a law practice in New York City.
In 1784, Hamilton took on a case, which involved the rights of people still loyal to the
British king. In defending the Loyalists, Hamilton established that everyone deserved fair
treatment, regardless of their political beliefs. Hamilton made history again that year when
he helped found the Bank of New York.
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Politics And Government
Hamilton believed in creating a strong federal government under a new Constitution, and
while he didn't have a strong hand in writing the Constitution, he did heavily influence its
approval. He wrote 51 essays defending it. When many other New Yorkers opposed the
Constitution, Hamilton worked hard to convince them to support it. His efforts succeeded
when New York agreed to approve it, and the remaining eight states followed suit.
When George Washington was elected president of the United States in 1789, he
appointed Alexander Hamilton as the first secretary of the treasury. At the time, the nation
still had great debt from the American Revolution, as it had borrowed money from the
French and Dutch to fight the British.
Hamilton was able to put in place his own economic plan, but not without obstacles. Some
fellow cabinet members were fearful of a central government holding so much power.
Hamilton gave up the opportunity for the country's capital to be in New York to gain the
support of the Southerners, who wanted it to be in Virginia. This was dubbed the "dinner
table bargain."
Hamilton stepped down from his position as secretary of the treasury in 1795, leaving
behind a far more secure U.S. economy.
Deadly Duel
During the 1800 presidential elections, two Democratic Republicans — Thomas Jefferson
and Aaron Burr — tied for the presidency. The Democratic-Republican Party was formed
by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. They believed in a government that favored the
rights of the states. The party was established to oppose Hamilton's Federalist Party. The
Federalists wanted a strong central government and had pushed for the ratification of the
U.S. Constitution.
Hamilton was clearly not a Democratic Republican. However, choosing Thomas Jefferson
as the lesser of two evils, Hamilton went to work supporting Jefferson's campaign.
Ultimately, the House of Representatives chose Jefferson as president, with Burr as his
vice president.
During his first term, Jefferson often left Burr out of decisions. When Jefferson ran for reelection in 1804, he didn't ask Burr to run with him as his vice-president. Burr hit his boiling
point when he read in a newspaper that Hamilton had called Burr "the most unfit and
dangerous man of the community."
Burr was convinced that Hamilton had ruined yet another election for him. When Hamilton
would not give him an explanation, Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel. Hamilton
begrudgingly accepted.
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The duel, which began at dawn on July 11, 1804, in Weehawken, New Jersey, ended in
bloodshed. When both men drew their guns and shot, Hamilton was fatally wounded.
Hamilton was brought back to New York City, where he died the next day, on July 12, 1804.
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Quiz
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Which statement would be MOST important to include in a summary of the article?
(A)
Although Hamilton was born in the British West Indies, he eventually ended
up living and dying in the state of New York.
(B)
Hamilton was bright enough to go to college as a teenager, but he was not
very interested in what he studied at King's College.
(C)
George Washington was so impressed with Hamilton that he made him his
assistant and adviser, and later secretary of the treasury.
(D)
Hamilton left his position working for George Washington to study law, and
he took on a case in which he defended the Loyalists.
Which of these sentences from the article BEST supports the idea that Hamilton played an
important role in American history?
(A)
However, with the American colonies on the brink of a revolution, Hamilton
was drawn more to political involvement than he was to academics.
(B)
While serving as an adviser for George Washington, Hamilton had come to
realize Congress' weaknesses, including the resentment brewing between
states.
(C)
Hamilton believed in creating a strong federal government under a new
Constitution, and while he didn't have a strong hand in writing the
Constitution, he did heavily influence its approval.
(D)
When George Washington was elected president of the United States in
1789, he appointed Alexander Hamilton as the first secretary of the treasury.
Based on the article, which of the following MOST influenced Hamilton's support of the new
Constitution?
(A)
his desire to please George Washington
(B)
his interest in creating a strong federal government
(C)
his love for the people of New York
(D)
his ambition to have a major role in the government
Based on the article, Aaron Burr would MOST likely agree with which statement?
(A)
Hamilton had a lot of power to influence people's thinking.
(B)
Hamilton would have made an excellent president.
(C)
Hamilton had the right to voice his opinion about Burr.
(D)
Hamilton should have had more of his ideas in newspapers.
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This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.
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