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==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.  

 

==New York==

==New York==

Hamilton became a leading lawyer in New York City, and married into the rich and powerful Schuyler family. Along with his close friend [[John Jay]], he was active in anti-slavery movements. Hamilton was elected to the Continental Congress, the [[New York]] State assembly, and was chosen by the legislature as a delegate to the [[Philadelphia]] Constitutional in 1787/ he played a minor role in the convention.  

Hamilton became a leading lawyer in [[New York City]], and married into the rich and powerful Schuyler family. Along with his close friend [[John Jay]], he was active in anti-[[slavery]] movements. Hamilton was elected to the [[Continental Congress]], the [[New York]] State assembly, and was chosen by the legislature as a delegate to the [[Philadelphia]] [[Constitutional Convention]] in 1787, although he played a minor role in the Convention.

 

Hamilton authored 51 of the 85  ''[[Federalist Papers]],'' while [[James Madison]] and [[John Jay]] composed the others.  These essays, published anonymously in [[newspaper]]s in New York and throughout the United States, helped turn popular opinion in favor of ratifying the Constitution, particularly in the decisive states of [[New York]] and [[Virginia]].

==Secretary of the Treasury==

==Secretary of the Treasury==

Perhaps Hamilton's greatest contribution to the success of the United States occurred during his tenure as Washington’s Secretary of the Treasury from 1789 to 1795.  Through a system of tariffs and excise taxes (some of which, as demonstrated by the [[Whiskey Rebellion]], caused a great deal of resentment), Hamilton placed the United States on sound financial footing. While Hamilton disliked taxes, he also realized that they were necessary.  Hamilton not only favored close trade ties with [[Great Britain]], the world’s leading commercial power, but he believed that the United States should emulate their economic system.  In his Report on Manufactures, Hamilton envisioned the United States as a nation that would rely on manufacturing and commerce in order to become a great power. This (among other things) put him at odds with [[Thomas Jefferson]], who envisioned the United States as an agrarian republic.  

Perhaps Hamilton's greatest contribution to the success of the United States occurred during his tenure as Washington’s Secretary of the Treasury from 1789 to 1795.  Through a system of tariffs and [[excise tax]]es (some of which, as demonstrated by the [[Whiskey Rebellion]], caused a great deal of resentment), Hamilton placed the United States on sound financial footing. While Hamilton disliked taxes, he also realized that they were necessary.  Hamilton not only favored close trade ties with [[Great Britain]], the world’s leading commercial power, but he believed that the United States should emulate their economic system.  In his Report on Manufactures, Hamilton envisioned the United States as a nation that would rely on manufacturing and commerce in order to become a great power. This (among other things) put him at odds with [[Thomas Jefferson]], who envisioned the United States as an [[agriculture|agrarian]] republic.  

 

==Federalist Party==

==Federalist Party==

Hamilton saw the need for political newspapers and subsidized numerous editors, most famously [[Noah Webster]]. In 1801,  with $10,000 from investors, Hamilton started the ''New-York Evening Post''.<ref>  It is currently published by Rupert Murdoch under the name [[New York Post]].</ref>

Hamilton saw the need for political newspapers and subsidized numerous editors, most famously [[Noah Webster]]. In 1801,  with $10,000 from investors, Hamilton started the ''[[New York Evening Post]]''.<ref>  It is currently published by [[Rupert Murdoch]] under the name [[New York Post]].</ref>

==Adams and Jefferson administrations==

==Adams and Jefferson administrations==