Jess Freeman
US History 1
Research History Paper
Alexander Hamilton
Perseverance is defined as the continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition. Throughout his life, Alexander Hamilton exemplified all aspects of perseverance. His inability to give up was portrayed in his work with the Revolutionary War, the National Bank System, the rise of the Federalist party and the creation of America’s Industrial center. As the captain of artillery in the Revolutionary War, first Secretary of State, father of the National bank, American political system influencer and key writer of the Federalist Papers, Alexander Hamilton’s many contributions have shaped modern day America. Born as a poor boy in the Caribbean, when Hamilton came to America, he sought success for himself and the young country, which he eventually achieved. Without the dedication and drive of Hamilton, America would not be in the economic, political and innovative state that it is in today. Alexander Hamilton’s intellectuality and perseverance brought America prosperity throughout the American Revolution.
Alexander Hamilton’s challenging early life made him the most ambitious and strong-willed founding father. Growing up on the Island of Nevis, Hamilton’s childhood was filled with adversity that he had to overcome. John Adams described Hamilton as "the bastard brat of a Scottish peddler," shedding light of his inferior yet confident well-being. Alexander Hamilton’s youth education was not proper, but his exceptional brain allowed him to learn with minimal recourses and skills. From a young age, it was evident that Hamilton was an immense writer with a bright future, but did not have the access to proper tools to succeed. Alexander Hamilton was always told he had a bright future when he was young, but as a twelve-year-old general store clerk living in the West Indies, it was a very difficult goal to achieve. In 1772, Hamilton took a leap of faith and came to America. Within a year, he was enrolled in Kings College to further explore his knowledge. Before long Hamilton developed a stance on the independence of America, was giving speeches and writing essays for public crowds. It was unheard of for an unknown, poor, immigrant boy to free-willingly give his opinions to fellow Americans, but a determined Hamilton did not care. Oppose to the “typical” Founding Fathers such as George Washington or Thomas Jefferson that came from wealth and opulence, Alexander Hamilton came from nothing and used his brain to build a platform for himself. Alexander Hamilton’s brilliant ideas potentially changed America for good, and with the determination fueled from his awful past, the poor immigrant from Nevis Island transformed into the brilliant Founding Father from America. (Edward Countryman)
Alexander Hamilton’s fortitude and courage in the Revolutionary War assisted America to victory. Hamilton’s drive to fight was present during the Revolutionary War. General George Washington saw ability and hard work within a young Hamilton, as he promoted him to Lieutenant Colonial in the Continental Army. Throughout the War, Alexander Hamilton took on the role as Washington’s number two and right-hand man. Hamilton assisted and executed Washington’s ideas and plans, as he was one of Washington’s most trusted individuals. In addition, Hamilton was the Captain of Artillery, being he was in charge of weaponry during the war. Although this was an important role, Alexander Hamilton was a “young man with a taste for military glory” (Chernow). He strived to be present in the war and helping war efforts. Hamilton achieved that by speaking at public meetings and writing revolutionary essays. Alexander Hamilton’s drive to win the war ultimately lead to a harder working and more determined country throughout the revolution.
Alexander Hamilton’s contributions to the National Bank resulted in a thriving American economy. The high levels of intelligence obtained by Hamilton allowed him to create a complete economic system from the ground up. He used mathematical information as well as the state of wealth America was in at the time to invent the National Banking system. The National Bank is based on three beliefs. Firstly, financial reform was crucial to the government's survival. This means that the bank will be ran through the Federal Government, oppose to many indusial decisions impacting the way the money is handled. Secondly, one’s loyalty to the government depended on economic and financial concerns, oppose to patriotic concerns. Thirdly, the wealthy elite must be linked closely to the government. The goal of giving the wealthy percentage of America given the most access to the money is that evidently that money would be trickled down to the lower classes of America. Alexander Hamilton is the brilliant mind behind these three-ingenious economic steps to American Revolution. Hamilton extraordinarily funded the federal debt at face value, as he was determined to conclude the financial chaos inherited from the Revolutionary War. Alexander Hamilton saw a need for banks in order to provide credit and arouse the economy, and executed as he innovatively created a national banking system. The brilliant idea of Alexander Hamilton pulled America out of the critical period and was a savior to the failing country.
The rise of political opinions in the United States began with Alexander Hamilton and the Federalist Party. Hamilton’s reoccurring determination to succeed made him a key role in the development of the Federalist Party. Hamilton’s drive for Federal Government power overcame all others as “no man worked harder to see that the plan successes” (Chernoff). Hamilton and his allies fought for the Federal cause and produced the Federalist Papers in an action to raise awareness for Federal rights. Alexander Hamilton was the force behind the force behind the project, being he produced and wrote two thirds of the eighty-five Federalist Papers. These papers urged the citizens of New York to ratify the new United States Constitution, in an effort to give the Federal Government power. Hamilton’s ideas civilized the country, bringing foreword the point that if the States are united under one government, America would prosper as one, but if the countries are divided and each have their own government, America would decline. The different opinions within the newly independent country lead to the rise of two political parties: The Federalists and the Antifederalists.
Alexander Hamilton’s avid intelligence lead to the rise of Industrial Manufacturing in America. The Establishment of Useful Manufactures, also known as the SUM is America's first planned industrial center which was created and developed by Hamilton. After the American Revolution, the United States were unable to purchase goods from the Great Britain due to price and political issues. It was not until Alexander Hamilton had the brilliant idea to create and sell goods for cheap in America that an industrial manufacturer was created in the states. Alexander Hamilton planned for “Paterson, New Jersey to be the center of American industrialism and [way] to reduce the new nation’s reliance on foreign industry” (nj.gov). Up until this point of realization, Americans had always been accustomed to being dependent on the Great Britain, but Hamilton believed that we must be an independent country, depending on our own industrial system. Hamilton bought land and built the country's first waterpower which established solid industrial power in where is now Paterson, New Jersey. Paterson was where America “declared its economic independence [and] where we set out to become an industrial power no longer dependent on England" (Zimmermann). Alexander Hamilton’s ideas played a huge role in early innovations of an American manufacturing system that remains today. Alexander Hamilton’s innovation of industries in America resulted in a stronger and more dependable country and officially marked America as an independent country.
Alexander Hamilton overcame hardships to change the prospective of America from a debt-ridden country in critical condition to a highly prosperous country with a thriving economic system. Hamilton’s highly intelligent persona gave America opportunities to flourish and prevail over other countries. Hamilton leaps of gratitude took America out of the critical period and into a state of a prospering economy. Alexander Hamilton’s intellect and proper judgement better aided the United States and the American Revolution.