Changes

|Religion:=[[Episcopalian]]

|Religion:=[[Episcopalian]]

|Founding Documents:=[[United States Constitution]]

|Founding Documents:=[[United States Constitution]]

}}'''Alexander Hamilton''' (January 11, 1757 - July 12, 1804) was one of the most important, and most [[conservative]] and [[Patriotic|nationalistic]], of the [[Founding Fathers]] of the [[United States]].  One of the greatest American intellectuals ever, Hamilton became a [[Christian]] about a decade before he sacrificed his life for the Nation and for his Christian [[faith]].<ref>D'Elia, Donald (1983). [http://www.catholiceducation.org/en/culture/history/alexander-hamilton-from-caesar-to-christ.html "Alexander Hamilton: From Caesar to Christ"], ch. 6 of ''The Spirits of 76'' (Front Royal, VA: Christendom College Press), p. 87.  Republished at Catholic Education Resource Center website/Culture/History.</ref>

}}'''Alexander Hamilton''' (January 11, 1757 - July 12, 1804) was one of the most important, and most [[conservative]] and [[Patriotic|nationalistic]], of the [[Founding Fathers]] of the [[United States]].  One of the greatest American intellectuals ever, Hamilton became a [[Christian]] about a decade before he was shot and killed in a duel with Aaron Burr.<ref>D'Elia, Donald (1983). [http://www.catholiceducation.org/en/culture/history/alexander-hamilton-from-caesar-to-christ.html "Alexander Hamilton: From Caesar to Christ"], ch. 6 of ''The Spirits of 76'' (Front Royal, VA: Christendom College Press), p. 87.  Republished at Catholic Education Resource Center website/Culture/History.</ref>

After wartime service as chief of staff to General [[George Washington]], he became a leading lawyer in [[New York]].  He called for a strong new [[constitution]] to replace the weak national government, and in 1788 he wrote half the ''[[Federalist Papers]]'', which mobilized supporters of the Constitution and continues to be the single most influential interpretation of [[republicanism]] and what the Constitution means.  He was a leading intellectual of his time and the driving force of the [[Washington D.C.|Washington]] Administration that shaped the young nation.   

After wartime service as aide-de-camp to General [[George Washington]], he became a leading lawyer in [[New York]].  He called for a strong new [[constitution]] to replace the weak national government, and in 1788 he wrote half the ''[[Federalist Papers]]'', which mobilized supporters of the Constitution and continues to be the single most influential interpretation of [[republicanism]] and what the Constitution means.  He was a leading intellectual of his time and the driving force of the [[Washington D.C.|Washington]] Administration that shaped the young nation.   

Hamilton realized that the basis of [[British]] power was its system of centralized [[tax]] collection and its funded [[national debt]] together with its sophisticated [[banking]] structure and its open market in public securities. For a state to wage [[war]] successfully, it had to tax efficiently and borrow cheaply—to become a powerful nation, America had to follow the British financial example. Hamilton's conclusion horrified [[Thomas Jefferson]] and his followers—they saw a deliberate adoption of British methods as an evil corruption—a betrayal of the values of [[Republicanism]] inherent in the [[American Revolution]].

Hamilton realized that the basis of [[British]] power was its system of centralized [[tax]] collection and its funded [[national debt]] together with its sophisticated [[banking]] structure and its open market in public securities. For a state to wage [[war]] successfully, it had to tax efficiently and borrow cheaply—to become a powerful nation, America had to follow the British financial example. Hamilton's conclusion horrified [[Thomas Jefferson]] and his followers—they saw a deliberate adoption of British methods as an evil corruption—a betrayal of the values of [[Republicanism]] inherent in the [[American Revolution]].

==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 aide-de-camp — 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.

After the Battle of Yorktown, Hamilton resigned his commission. New York appointed Hamilton to the Congress of the Confederation for the term beginning in November 1782, and appointed him as a delegate to the [[Annapolis Convention]] in 1786.

After the Battle of Yorktown, Hamilton resigned his commission. New York appointed Hamilton to the Congress of the Confederation for the term beginning in November 1782, and appointed him as a delegate to the [[Annapolis Convention]] in 1786.