ALEXANDER HAMILTON

"THOSE WHO STAND FOR NOTHING FALL FOR ANYTHING."

CHILDHOOD

• Born circa Jan. 11, 1755 or 1757
• The exact date of birth is unknown
• Born during an affair between his mom and another man
• Mother was a Frenchwoman, Rachel Fawcett Lavine
• Father was a Scottish trader names James

CHILDHOOD (CONTINUED)

• James, his father, left Hamilton and his mom when he was still a baby.
• Took his first job at the age of 11 as a clerk in an accounting firm
• His boss, Nicolas Cruger, and a minister, Hugh Knox, realized he was smart
• Together, they paid for him to go to America for school
• He came to New York at age 16 and enrolled in King's College

REVOLUTION HELP

• As a teen he volunteered in a New York artillery company
• Here he fought in the battles of Long Island, White Plans, and Trenton
• In 1777 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the Continental Army
• Washington noticed him and made Hamilton his assistant and trusted adviser
• He wrote Washington's important letters and made reports about battles

REVOLUTIONARY HELP (CONTINUED)

REVOLUTIONARY HELP (CONTINUED)

• Hamilton convinced Washington to let him fight
• Hamilton led a victorious charge in the Battle of Yorktown
• This led to the Treaty of Paris and two treaties signed at Versailles
• Left his advisor post in 1782
• 1789 he was appointed inspector general and second in command

AFTER WAR

• He settled down with his wife, Elisabeth Schuyler
• He moved on to study law
• He established a practice in New York City
• When the Revolution ended, he defended Loyalists against rebels
• In 1784, he took on the Rutgers v. Waddington case

1784

• Hamilton took on the Rutgers v. Waddington case
• It was an important case for our justice system
• Led to the making of our judicial review system
• Also assisted in founding the Bank of New York that year

POLITICAL HELP

• Serving as a New York delegate, he attended the constitutional convention
• He didn't help much in writing the constitution
• Wrote 51 of 85 essays in "The Federalist"
• Strong federalist
• In 1789, when George Washington was elected president, he made Hamilton the first secretary of the treasure

POLITICAL OPINION

• Did not like democracy
• Loved British government
• Believed in a mix of aristocracy, monarchy, and republicanism
• Thought we needed a strong government to control people
• Also wanted a strong government to gain respect from other countries

DEATH

• Hamilton died from a gunshot wound
• He agreed to duel Aaron Burr as the two had been enemies for a while
• They argued over anything political
• Both drew their guns and fired, Hamilton was hit
• He was brought back to NYC where he died the next day, July 12, 1804

Even back then, politicians had drama.

• Only difference is they had gun duels and sometimes killed each other
• They didn't shut down the government
• So in other words they were cooler back then
• And also not as big of crying babies

CLAIM TO FAME

• Led a victorious charge in the Battle of Yorktown
• Helped found the bank of New York in 1784
• Attended the Constitutional Convention
• Wrote 51 of the 85 essays in "The Federalist"
• Many know him as the man on the ten dollar bill