Changes

* the election of [[Thomas Jefferson]] as president rather than [[Aaron Burr]] in 1801

* the election of [[Thomas Jefferson]] as president rather than [[Aaron Burr]] in 1801

As the nation's first [[United States Secretary of the Treasury|Secretary of the Treasury]], Hamilton's far reaching vision put the United States on an stable financial basis and promoted national unity. His Treasury took over [[state debt]]s as well as [[debts]] owed by the [[Federal government|national government]], and funded them with long-term [[national debt]], which in turn was paid by a new [[tariff]] on imports and a tax on whiskey.  He set up the Bank of the United States, a [[central bank]] to make [[liquidity]] in financial markets possible. The nation's business and financial communities for the first time became united in a single [[economy]], and provided critical support for Hamilton. To mobilize that grass-roots support he founded the [[Federalist Party]], which operated in every state. It was the first popular [[political party]] in the world, but soon had competition from the [[Democratic-Republican Party]] founded by his great adversary [[Thomas Jefferson]].  In foreign affairs he was a strong supporter of [[Britain]], and the well-balanced British political system. Working closely with [[George Washington]], Hamilton in 1795 secured the critical [[Jay Treaty]] over the intense opposition of Jeffersonians who favored [[France]] in its war with Britain.  Despite an embarrassing sex scandal, Hamilton tried to keep control of the Federalist Party while [[John Adams]] was President, and orchestrated the creation of a powerful national army in 1798, which he and Washington were to head. Adams' achievement of peace with France frustrated Hamilton's plans, so he sabotaged Adams' reelection in 1800.  Nevertheless he helped Jefferson become President when it appeared the scoundrel [[Aaron Burr]] might take the office. He was killed by Burr in a duel, and for most of the 19th century was a target of attacks by [[Democrats]] as undemocratic and even pro-[[monarchy]].  By the [[Progressive Era]] after 1900, however, Hamilton's [[patriotism|nationalism]], financial wizardry, and promotion of business and [[banking]] increasingly appealed to [[conservative]]s, who made Hamilton into a hero of their own.  Hamilton was one of the great expositors of the American political creed of [[Republicanism]], and set up programs that proved a strong, effective government of the people could be made operational without an [[aristocracy]] or [[monarch]].

As the nation's first [[United States Secretary of the Treasury|Secretary of the Treasury]], Hamilton's far reaching vision put the United States on an stable financial basis and promoted national unity. His Treasury took over [[state debt]]s as well as [[debts]] owed by the [[Federal government|national government]], and funded them with long-term [[national debt]], which in turn was paid by a new [[tariff]] on imports and a tax on whiskey.  He set up the Bank of the United States, a [[central bank]] to make [[liquidity]] in financial markets possible. The nation's business and financial communities for the first time became united in a single [[economy]], and provided critical support for Hamilton. To mobilize that grass-roots support he founded the [[Federalist Party]], which operated in every state. It was the first popular [[political party]] in the world, but soon had competition from the [[Democratic-Republican Party]] founded by his great adversary [[Thomas Jefferson]].   

 

In foreign affairs he was a strong supporter of [[Britain]], and the well-balanced British political system. Working closely with [[George Washington]], Hamilton in 1795 secured the critical [[Jay Treaty]] over the intense opposition of Jeffersonians who favored [[France]] in its war with Britain.  Despite an embarrassing sex scandal, Hamilton tried to keep control of the Federalist Party while [[John Adams]] was President, and orchestrated the creation of a powerful national army in 1798, which he and Washington were to head. Adams' achievement of peace with France frustrated Hamilton's plans, so he sabotaged Adams' reelection in 1800.  Nevertheless he helped Jefferson become President when it appeared the scoundrel [[Aaron Burr]] might take the office. He was killed by Burr in a duel, and for most of the 19th century was a target of attacks by [[Democrats]] as undemocratic and even pro-[[monarchy]].   

 

By the [[Progressive Era]] after 1900, however, Hamilton's [[patriotism|nationalism]], financial wizardry, and promotion of business and [[banking]] increasingly appealed to [[conservative]]s, who made Hamilton into a hero of their own.  Hamilton was one of the great expositors of the American political creed of [[Republicanism]], and set up programs that proved a strong, effective government of the people could be made operational without an [[aristocracy]] or [[monarch]].

==Early life==

==Early life==

Hamilton was born out of wedlock in the [[British West Indies]].  A prodigy, he was handling merchant accounts as a teenager, and his essay on a hurricane attracted patrons who paid his way to the American colonies.  Some scholars have argued that Hamilton’s  origins can be reflected in his later life, where, unlike much of the Revolutionary generation, his views were more nationalistic, rather than tied to the interests of a particular region or state.   

Hamilton was born out of wedlock in the [[British West Indies]].  A prodigy, he was handling merchant accounts as a teenager, and his essay on a [[hurricane]] attracted patrons who paid his way to the American colonies.  Some scholars have argued that Hamilton’s  origins can be reflected in his later life, where, unlike much of the Revolutionary generation, his views were more nationalistic, rather than tied to the interests of a particular region or state.   

==Revolution==

==Revolution==

As a student at King's College (now Columbia University), Hamilton took a major role in the political debates over independence. Hamilton raised a company of artillery and was selected captain. Fighting the British invasion of new York City in late 1776, he came to the attention of [[George Washington]], commander in chief of the Continental Army.  Washington promoted Hamilton to colonel and made him his senior aide--in effect the chief of staff (although that title was not in use. Hamilton had a combat command at the battle of Yorktown that ended the war in 1781.  Hamilton may have alerted General Washington to the existence of the Newburgh Conspiracy, in which disgruntled officers might have become a threat to civilian government. Washington prevented that.  

As a student at King's College (now Columbia University), Hamilton took a major role in the political debates over independence. Hamilton raised a company of artillery and was selected captain. Fighting the British invasion of new York City in late 1776, he came to the attention of [[George Washington]], commander in chief of the Continental Army.  Washington promoted Hamilton to colonel and made him his senior aide--in effect the chief of staff (although that title was not in use. Hamilton had a combat command at the battle of Yorktown that ended the war in 1781.  Hamilton may have alerted General Washington to the existence of the Newburgh Conspiracy, in which disgruntled officers might have become a threat to civilian government. Washington prevented that.