Alexander Hamilton: The Founding Father of the U.S

Alexander Hamilton is considered the founding father of our nation. Alexander Hamilton served under George Washington during the revolutionary war. He was a member of the Continental Congress. He wanted a strong Federal government. He drew up a plan to replace the Articles of Confederation in 1780. In 1786 he proposed the Annapolis Convention. He was the leader of the Federalist party during the Constitution Convention of 1787, Hamilton advocated a strong Federal government and defended the powers of the strong Federal government in the Federalist Papers. These papers were written to answer and counter the allegations of the anti-Federalists concerning the US Constitution. Hamilton's initial answer to the demand for a Bill of Rights was "Why prohibit the Federal government from using powers it was never given?" But eventually Hamilton conceded.

One can learn a lot about the views of Hamilton by reading the Federalist Papers. Hamilton write Federalist Paper # 1, 6 - 9, 11 - 13, 15 - 17, 21 - 36, 38 - 48, 58 - 61 and 65 - 85. Hamilton and Madison wrote Federalist Papers 18 - 20. For a more detailed list of who wrote which Federalist paper and where it was published, try the following URL:

http://thomas.local.gov/home/histdox/fedpapers.html

Alexander Hamilton served as Secretary of the Treasury under President George Washington. He was a Constitutional lawyer who believed in the specific powers given in the US Constitution and the implied powers. Hamilton established the very first National bank in order to restore the US dollar. He urged President Washington to define the Executive Office as having the power to threats from other nations. He wanted to Federal government to pay up it's debts from the Revolutionary war and pay up the state debts. His policies caused a breach between him and Thomas Jefferson. Hence, two political parties existed during the Presidency of George Washington: The Federalist Party and the Republican Party. Alexander Hamilton supported the Jay Treaty and opposed the Whiskey Rebellion. In 1798, he became the Inspector General of the Army. He also had a successful law practice.

Alexander Hamilton died during a duel with Aaron Burr in 1804.

References: A Patriot's History Of The United States written by Larry Schweikart and Michael Allen
ISBN 1-59523-001-7
Published by Penguin Books LTD

The Federalist Papers In Modern Language
Edited by Mary E Webster
ISBN 0-936783-21-4
Published by Merril Press