FREE ESSAY ON HAMILTON'S CRUSADE

HAMILTON'S CRUSADE

When the revolutionary war was over, the American colonists found themselves free of
British control. Now that they were free, they wanted to create their own system of
government where the tyranny and the arbitrariness of the British monarchy of old, would
be diminished. Originally, The Articles of Confederation thinly united the thirteen
states. This document had given the central government no power to do what was needed.
The central government had no power to tax they only had the power to ask the states for
money. They also had no money to pay for an army to settle domestic disputes or fight off
invaders. These weaknesses and others in The Articles of Confederation caused the people
to consider amending the Articles that would correct these wrongs and at the same time
protecting the interests of the states. So in 1787, the states sent delegates to a
convention in Philadelphia to amend the Articles. It did not take long for the delegates
to scrap the Articles and to start writing a new document, the Constitution. Even this
new document created controversy. The American people were divided into two groups: the
federalists, with Alexander Hamilton as the leader, and the anti-federalists or
Jeffersonians because they were led by Thomas Jefferson. The federalists believed that
the Constitution itself was good enough where as the Jeffersonians thought that it would
not protect the rights of the people. But both however decided that the government should
be based on the principles of federalism. The Bill of Rights was added to the
Constitution, to help the ratification of it and to insure the rights of the people. The
Federalist, a series of papers, was written to get support of the Constitution in New
York. These papers were written under the pseudonym, Publius. The papers were actually
written by three men: Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay. Hamilton was the
leader of these three for he had written 51 of the 85 The Federalist papers. Through
their efforts the New York legislature ratified the Constitution. Even after the
Constitution was ratified, the two factions remained divided for several reasons. One
reason was the creation of a national bank. Hamilton was very supportive of a national
bank and Jefferson was against the idea of a national bank. The descendants of these
first two factions are seen today in the Democrats and the Republicans. Alexander
Hamilton accomplished many great things for the United States including: calling for a
stronger central government, setting up a national bank and a plan for economic growth
and inadvertently starting the two-party system. 
Alexander Hamilton the Revolutionary and the Pater Familias
Alexander Hamilton was born on January 11, 1755 (or 1757 according to Hamilton) on the
West Indies Island of Nevis in the town Charleston. He was born out of wedlock to Rachel
Faucitt Lavien and James Hamilton, who would later abandon the family in 1765. A local
clergyman, Reverend Hugh Knox, raised funds to send Alexander away to school in 1773. He
entered King's College (Columbia University) in 1774. At the age of 19 he wrote a
pamphlet, A Full Vindication of the Measures of Congress. This was in response to a
Tory's pamphlet that called the Continental Congress "...a parcel of upstart lawless
Committee-men."1 Alexander defended in his pamphlet that the Congress was "...an august
body of men famed for their patriotism and abilities." 
In the Revolutionary War, he distinguished himself in the eyes of General Washington, and
in 1777, Washington asked him to be one of his six aide-de-camps (secretaries) with the
rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Hamilton's main job was to, as Washington said, "...think for
me, as well as execute orders." He rode beside Washington in the battles at Brandywine,
Germantown and Monmouth. 
Alexander married Elizabeth Schuyler in 1780, with whom he had eight children. Hamilton
had just wanted to lead a simple life and care for his family or in his words "...retire
a simple citizen and good pater familias (father of the family.)" Sometimes Alexander
Hamilton would have a hard time in accomplishing this, as he was always away from home
fighting for a new cause. 
Alexander Hamilton the Lawyer 
Alexander turned to law at the end of the war to support his new family. The New York
Supreme Court passed an order in January of 1782 saying that those who had to cease their
studies because of the war did not have to have three years of clerkship. In October of
1782, he was admitted to the bar association. However, since he was a delegate to
Congress, he did not start to practice law until November of 1783. At this time he moved
his family into a house on Wall Street and opened up his first law office. 
In the beginning the majority of cases that Hamilton represented were the ones in which
he represented Tories. Hamilton represented Tories because they were experienced
businessmen and had money. He believed that if they were to be driven off due to harsh
laws, the nation could lose several hundred thousand dollars and their experience, which
the young nation badly needed. In February of 1784, he wrote the charter for and became a
founding member of the Bank of New York, the state's first bank. This experience would
later help Hamilton in setting up the nation's first bank. The following year, he and his
friend, John Jay, founded the Society for Promoting the Manumission (freeing) of Slaves.
The primary purpose of the society was to create a register of freed slaves to make sure
that they were not deprived of their liberties. In 1786, the society petitioned the state
legislature to put an end to the slave trade. Alexander Hamilton tried to stay out of
public issues but this would not happen because of his stance on these issues.
Alexander Hamilton at the Constitutional Convention
In May of 1786 Alexander Hamilton was elected to the state assembly. He had been asked to
run several times before, but the positions did not offer enough money he needed to
support his growing family. He was soon asked to be a delegate to the Annapolis
Convention in Maryland. The convention was called to discuss interstate commerce only.
The convention itself was viewed as a failure since only five states were there. Hamilton
was determined not to leave the convention without accomplishing something. He was a
leader to draft a proposal to have another convention in Philadelphia the following year.
He wanted to have the convention to have a broader agenda other than just interstate
commerce. Hamilton said that the convention should "...devise such provisions as shall
appear necessary to render the constitution of the Federal Government adequate to the
exigencies of the Union." The convention was significant to Hamilton in the respect that
he was reunited with James Madison. Both were determined to fight for a strong federal
government.
Shay's rebellion was a key factor in the states wanting to have the convention. Many
people were still against the convention fearing that they might lose control. One of
these people was George Clinton, governor of New York. The New York State assembly
granted Hamilton the five man federally minded delegation that he wanted. Clinton
supporters in the senate decide on a three-man delegation: Alexander Hamilton, John
Lansing and Robert Yates. Lansing and Yates were two of the biggest Clinton supporters
around; the senate did this to keep Hamilton in check. The convention opened with three
major propositions: the Virginia Plan, calling for a stronger federal government; the New
Jersey Plan, asking to retain state's sovereignty: and the Hamilton Plan, which was
presented by Alexander Hamilton. He made this presentation in a five hour long speech on
June 18, which was the longest of the convention. 
States practically lost all of their power under his plan. He believed that the
continuance of state governments would always hinder the federal government's progress.
He had the idea of getting rid of the Articles totally since state sovereignty was deeply
embedded in it. Hamilton wanted the convention to establish a new more powerful central
government. He wanted the new government "... with decisive power, in short with complete
sovereignty." Hamilton went on to say that the British system of government was the best
in the world and he wanted America's system of government to be patterned after the
British. His legislative branch resembled the British parliament in many ways. Everybody
would vote for the assembly and the rich could only vote for the Senate. The Senate was
modeled after the British House of Lords. For the executive branch, Hamilton proposed
what was soon to be termed "an elected king". Hamilton was against the idea of terms for
the "Governor," because he felt that the incumbent would spend his time in office
creating a political machine to ensure his reelection instead of working full-time in his
duties. To get rid of this, Hamilton proposed no set limits and that the executive should
serve during good behavior. The judiciary would compose of a Supreme Court and such
additional United States courts, as the legislature should decide to create. Hamilton's
basic plan of government looked like this:
? Two legislatures consisting of an assembly, directly elected by the people to a
three-year term; and a senate, chosen by electors from senatorial districts to serve
during good behavior.
? A judiciary consisting of twelve justices to serve during good behavior. The judiciary
would have to be both original and appellate jurisdictions.
? An executive "Governor," whose election is made by electors chosen by the people from
the senatorial districts, to serve during good behavior. 
After his speech, many of the delegates felt that Hamilton had gone too far and labeled
him an extremist. Much of what Hamilton proposed in his speech would end up in the
Constitution such as the prohibitions on ex post facto laws, bills of attainder, grants
of nobility, religious tests for government positions, and the establishment of any
religion. The executive being the commander-in-chief of United States forces, being able
to appoint heads of departments and make treaties and pardons with the Senate's consent
and the idea of having electors to vote for the executive's head office are also in the
Constitution. The day after Hamilton made his speech, the delegates voted on the Virginia
Plan to be the basis of the government. 
Lansing and Yates did a good job of keeping Hamilton in check. He grew frustrated and
soon left to resume his law practice. In August some of the delegates had left in disgust
including Lansing and Yates. Upon hearing this, Hamilton returned to the convention to
cast his vote and to sign the Constitution. Hamilton was still skeptical of the
Constitution, but he felt that it was better than nothing. Hamilton said in his last
speech that, "No man's ideas were more remote from the plan than his were known to be;
but is it possible to deliberate between anarchy and Convulsion on one side, and the
chance of good to be expected from the plan to the other." Hamilton still felt that it
should give more power to the federal government and less to the states. He was the only
one to sign the Constitution for New York. 
Alexander Hamilton and the Federalist
Alexander Hamilton still had a long way to go before the Constitution could be ratified.
Governor Clinton had started as early as July to form a defense against Hamilton and the
Constitution. He started to write a series of essays entitled the Federalist. He wrote
the essays under the pseudonym of Publius. The Clintonian/Anti-federalists had a majority
over the Federalists everywhere but in Manhattan, Hamilton's district. Hamilton called on
his friends John Jay and James Madison to help him out on the essays. John Jay would only
write four because he grew sick. The first Federalist appeared on October 27, 1777 and
the last one appeared on May 28, 1788. The purpose of the essays was to gain support of
the Constitution by explaining it. The Federalist is still considered one of the greatest
works written on a constitutional government. Even Thomas Jefferson (the future rival of
Hamilton) claimed the Federalist to be "... the best commentary on the principles of
government which ever was written." 
New York held its Constitution convention on June 17,1788. The Anti-federalists out
numbered the Federalists two to one. Hamilton called upon his power of persuasion to
reverse the minds of the Anti-federalists. The Federalists decided to hold out as long as
they could so they went over every piece of the Constitution. After more than a month of
debating, the convention ratified the Constitution by a 30-27 vote. New York did not need
to ratify the Constitution since ten states already did, but New York had a geographical,
commercial and population importance. 
Alexander Hamilton the Secretary of Treasury 
On September 11, 1789, Alexander Hamilton became the first secretary of the United
States. He has a major task of setting up the nation's economy before him. Part of his
workload was the 54 million-dollar deficit from the Revolutionary War. Hamilton based his
system after the British system, which uses a national credit. He felt that, "To be able
to borrow upon good terms, it is essential that the credit of a nation should be well
established...by good faith, by a punctual performance of contracts." This Hamilton's
plan that contained three basic provisions for the handling of the debt:
? As mandated by the Constitution, the foreign debt and interest would be paid in full
according to the terms initially agreed to.
? The principle of the domestic debt would be paid at par to the current bearers.
? The federal government would assume state debts with interest payments deferred until
1792. 
When he announced his plan to Congress in his Report on Public Credit, many were opposed
to the ideas. One of them was Hamilton's friend James Madison. Madison felt that the
people who originally bough the bonds would be mistreated since they later sold the bonds
for a much lower value for cash. He also felt that those bought the bonds at a low value
would be making a huge profit. Madison was against the idea of assumption of the states'
debts too. Madison's home state, Virginia, had already paid off most of its debt and he
thought that his constituents should not have to pay for the other states' debts. A deal
was made between Madison and Hamilton. Madison would get votes in Congress from Virginia
and Maryland, if Hamilton would locate the capital on the Potomac in Virginia and
Maryland. Hamilton also called for the first Bank of the United States. Congress approved
and on February 25, 1791 it was established with a twenty-year charter and $10,000,000
limit. This led to more conflict with Madison and Jefferson. They were against it because
the Constitution did not give the power to set up a national bank to Congress. While
Congress was still debating the bank, Hamilton presented them with his report, On the
Establishment of a Mint. In his report he called for a bimetallic standard for the
currency, coinage based on the decimal system, and the establishment of a mint in
Philadelphia. Hamilton was very successful as the Secretary of Treasury. He accomplished
everything he set out to do: redeem the credit of the United States, increased revenues,
expand the supply of capital, and establish a standard currency. 
Alexander Hamilton and the Republicans 
In the summer of 1787, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison created a political party,
Democrat-Republicans. They both did not like "factions," but they felt that something
needed to be done stop Hamilton. They thought that Hamilton was exerting too much federal
power and was infringing on the states. Their main argument was the national bank. The
Republicans thought that it was unconstitutional and Hamilton felt that it was in
Congress' implied powers. Over the years the rivalry grew harsher as both Jefferson and
Hamilton attacked each other newspapers and throughout Washington, who wished that the
two would get along. Another topic of debate between the two factions was foreign policy.
Jefferson wanted to be aligned with France and Hamilton with Great Britain. Hamilton won
his case with Washington when he sent John Jay to Great Britain and the Jay treaty was
signed. There was opposition to it, but again Hamilton did what he did best, persuade.
The pro-French movement suffered a major setback due to the scandalous "X, Y, Z" affair.
Hamilton soon turned away from his own party. In 1800, the Federalists nominated John
Adams for president. Hamilton did not like Adams because he did not seek his advice on
important issues as president. The election of 1800 ended up being a tie between Aaron
Burr and Thomas Jefferson. The Federalist House wanted to vote for Burr since Jefferson
was their main antagonist. Alexander Hamilton hated and did not trust Burr and urged
Federalists to vote for Jefferson. The state and national elections of 1800 was the end
of the Federalists in power. 
Alexander Hamilton and the Infamous Duel 
Aaron Burr decided to run for governor of New York in 1804. He had asked for the
Federalists' support, but Hamilton refused to give him any and the Republican candidate
soundly defeated Burr. Burr blamed his defeat on Hamilton and demanded Hamilton to
apologize for his comments about him. Hamilton refused and the date was set for a duel on
July 11, 1804. The place was Weehawken, New Jersey, where dueling was still legal. Burr
shot Hamilton in the abdomen and Hamilton shot in the air. Hamilton suffered the same
fate as his son did three years earlier and on the following day he died. 
There was an immense outpouring of public grief at the news of Hamilton's death. He had
meant so much to the United States as it meant so much to him. He had created an economic
system that would make the United States a global power in a short time. He was the first
one to use the Constitution's extended powers in order to set up the national bank. He
was one of the first to defend the freedom of the press (People v. Croswell 1804.)
Hamilton kept a positive approach on America as he built for the future. Jefferson even
admitted, "We can pay off his debt in 15 years: but we will never get rid of his
financial system." He often felt that his efforts fell short for his country:
"Mine is an odd destiny. Perhaps no man has sacrificed or done more the present
constitution than myself...Yet I have the murmurs of its friends no less than the curses
of its foes for my reward. What can I do better than withdraw from the Scene? Every day
proves to me more and more that this American world was not made for me." 
For doing what he did America owes much of its existence to a, as John Adams described
Hamilton, "...bastard brat of a Scottish peddler."
Bibliography
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bowers, Claude G. Jefferson and Hamilton. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1953.
Cooke, Jacob E. Alexander Hamilton. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1982.
Cooke, Jacob E. The Reports of Alexander Hamilton. New York: Harper & Row, 1964.
Finkleman, Paul "Hamilton, Alexander." U.S. Government Leaders. Alan Greenspan-
James Monroe. Volume 2. 309-602. Pasadena CA: Salem, 1997.
Nevins, Allan. "Hamilton, Alexander." Dictionary of American Biography. Volume IV. 
New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1960.
Roche, John F. Illustrious Americans: Alexander Hamilton. Morristown NJ: Silver 
Burdett, 1967.