Woody Wood
on July 3, 2021
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July 2 - White History Month - 30th Most Iconic White American
Alexander Hamilton's ideas laid the foundation for American government and finance.
Born into obscurity in the British West Indies, Hamilton made his reputation as a commanding officer and military planner during the Revolutionary War then became one of America’s most influential Founding Fathers.
Alexander Hamilton (1/4 British 1/4 French Huguenot 1/2 Scotish), January 11, 1755 – July 12, 1804 (dying during patriotic White History Month) was an American statesman, politician, legal scholar, military commander, lawyer, banker, and economist. He was one of the Founding Fathers who was an impassioned champion of a strong federal government, and played a key role in defending and ratifying the U.S. Constitution. He was an influential interpreter and promoter of the U.S. Constitution, as well as the founder of the nation's financial system, the Federalist Party, the United States Coast Guard, and the New York Post newspaper.
As the first secretary of the treasury, Hamilton was the main author of the economic policies of George Washington's administration. He took the lead in the federal government's funding of the states' debts, as well as establishing the nation's first two de facto central banks, the Bank of North America and the First Bank of the United States, a system of tariffs, and friendly trade relations with Britain. His vision included a strong central government led by a vigorous executive branch, a strong commercial economy, support for manufacturing, and a strong military.
Hamilton was born out of wedlock in Charlestown, Nevis. He was orphaned as a child. Hired as a clerk in a trading company on St. Croix when he was just 11, Hamilton gained wider attention after he published an eloquent letter describing a hurricane that had hit the island in 1772. Locals helped raise money to send him to America to study, and he arrived in New York in late 1772, just as the colonies were gearing up for a war for independence from Great Britain.
He took an early role in the militia as the American Revolutionary War began. In 1777, he became a senior aide to General Washington in running the new Continental Army.
Hamilton wanted to command the assault on Redoubt 10 which Washington had given to someone else. Hamilton objected, claiming it was his turn and that he had seniority. When Washington overturned the previous decision and gave Hamilton the command, Hamilton rushed to his friend and second in command, Nicholas Fish, and exclaimed ‘We have it! We have it!’ ” His strategy in the attack was to approach the redoubts in silence with guns unloaded, encircle the enemy and force them to surrender quickly with few casualties. It was a surprise night assault on a moonless night—they did not want to give themselves away with flashes and the sound of guns. Bayonets were to be used to avoid giving away specific locations and silence was ordered. The plan worked: Hamilton’s troops took control of the redoubt within 10 minutes and with few American deaths. And the victory earned Hamilton the reputation he sought.
Hamilton's report of the assault on Redoubt 10 was published in newspapers around the country, but Hamilton made no mention of his own accomplishments that day despite heaping praise on those who served under him. Lafayette's report of the assault was also printed in these newspapers and he heaped abundant praise upon Hamilton for his actions at Yorktown. As a result, the entire country heard about Hamilton's bravery and leadership.
After the war, he was elected as a representative from New York to the Congress of the Confederation. He resigned to practice law and founded the Bank of New York before entering politics. Hamilton was a leader in seeking to replace the weak confederal government under the Articles of Confederation; he led the Annapolis Convention of 1786, which spurred Congress to call a Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. He helped ratify the Constitution by writing 51 of the 85 installments of The Federalist Papers, which are still used as one of the most important references for Constitutional interpretation.
Hamilton led the Treasury Department as a trusted member of President Washington's first Cabinet and proposed that the U.S. dollar should have fractional coins using decimals, rather than eighths like the Spanish coinage. Hamilton successfully argued that the implied powers of the Constitution provided the legal authority to fund the national debt, to assume states' debts, and to create the government-backed Bank of the United States (the First Bank of the United States). These programs were funded primarily by a tariff on imports, and later by a controversial whiskey tax.
He opposed administration entanglement with the series of unstable French revolutionary governments.
Hamilton continued his legal and business activities in New York City, and was active in ending the legality of the international slave trade.
Vice President Burr ran for governor of New York State in 1804, and Hamilton campaigned against him as unworthy. Taking offense, Burr challenged him to a duel on July 11, 1804, in which Burr shot and mortally wounded Hamilton, who died the following day.
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