By: Erin Herock

Period: 2

Alexander Hamilton

1789

“Men often oppose a thing merely because they have no agency in planning it, or because it may have been planned by those whom they dislike.”

-Alexander Hamilton

Who was Alexander Hamilton?In his teenage years he helped run a shipping

company in the British West Indies.He impressed the people working with him

because of his intelligence and work ethic. Because of this, he left for New York in 1773. He was appointed the secretary of the treasury

by George Washington.He was known as a man with an ability for

economical planning.Also, he had the gift for financial matters.

Alexander Hamilton

Alexander Hamilton Versus Thomas Jefferson

HAMILTON’S VIEWPOINTS JEFFERSON’S VIEWPOINTS

Stronger Central Government Believed that his practical approach

would protect everyone’s liberties while keeping the people from having too much power

Wanted to promote the growth of manufacturing and commerce to make America a more diverse economy

Suggested that prizes be given out to companies for excellence

Also wanted at protective tariff, a duty or tax, on imported goods to raise the prices of foreign products in order to protect domestic products

Wanted to establish a national bank and a national mint to begin issuing money

Recommended a 20-year charter at the end so that Congress could vote whether or not to keep the bank

Believed in loose construction-meaning that the federal government could take reasonable actions that the Constitution did not specifically forbid it from taking.

Protect the Power of the States Disagreed with Hamilton on the

citizen’s ability, and defended the right of the people to rule the country

Believed farmers made the best citizens because we thought they did not depend on too much on other people’s work (independent)

Did not want to depend too much on a business and manufacturing economy

Did not think the U.S. Constitution should give Congress the power to start a national bank.

Believed in a strict construction of the Constitution-that the federal government could do only what the Constitution specifically said it could do.

The national debt was the amount of money owed by the United States to various creditors.

Hamilton calculated that the United States owed about $11.7 million to foreign countries such as France, and around $40.4 million to America creditors.

Domestic debt was in the form of bonds which were certificates that represent money owed by the government to private citizens.

Bonds were what the U.S. sold during the Revolutionary War, and they promised to buy back the bonds at a higher price to guarantee a profit for bond-holders.

However, the government could not afford to buy the bonds, causing many bond-holders to sell their bonds to speculators- investors who buy items at low prices in the hope that the value will rise later.

Hamilton proposed a plan to pay off all foreign debt first, and gradually repay bond-holders .

Hamilton on Settling the Debt

It was created because the government had a debt from the Revolutionary War, and each state had different form of currency.

He believed it provided a safe place to deposit government funds and would serve as a reliable source of loans for the government and businesses.

He proposed a national mint to begin issuing money.

Hamilton on the National Bank

This duel took place on the morning of July 11, 1804 in Weehawken, New Jersey.

The Duel Between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr

Why did this occur? To begin, the first conflict was that Hamilton was a Federalist and Burr was a

Republican. Then, in 1791, Burr took the Senate seat from Philip Schuyler, Hamilton’s

father-in-law. This resulted in Hamilton, the Treasury secretary, to be supported less

because he counted on Schuyler’s votes. In 1804, Burr decided to run as an independent instead of joining the

Republicans; he believed that by doing so he would have power. Out of mistrust, this alarmed Hamilton that Burr was going to be leading New

York. Hamilton then tired to warn the New York Federalists not to vote for Burr, and

started a campaign against him. Burr’s campaign failed, and he blamed this on Hamilton. That was the last straw between them ,and it ended in the duel between them

on July 11, 1804. Alexander Hamilton died a day after the duel because of a gunshot wound.

The Duel Between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr

Why was a duel a solution to their conflicts?Duels in the 1800’s were usually to protect

their honor.After challenging another man to a duel they

would often end in negotiations or deals.They often did not end in violence.

The Duel Between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr