Alexander_Hamilton

Irony is the result of anticipated action concerning what is expected and the actual outcome. Comparative admiration towards Jefferson and Hamilton has to do with the Jeffersonian democracy versus the Hamiltonian aristocracy. Alexander Hamilton was viewed by many as “the American Mephistopheles, the proponent of such devilish contrivances as banks, factories and stock exchanges. He was demonized as a slavish pawn of the British Crown, a closet monarchist, a Machiavellian intriguer, a would be Caesar”. (Ron Chernow – Alexander HamiltonPg 3) Alexander Hamilton, one of the Founding fathers of the United States overcame enormous struggles and his policies still live on today in many ways one may not recognize in their daily life. Historical records show that not much has been recorded about the life of such a brilliant figure who went on to become the first treasury secretary and key designer of our present financial system. Born in 1755 to a middle class family, he was teased as a child having been born a bastard to Rachel a woman who had endured much persecution from her ex husband. Abandoned by her common law husband James, Alexander’s mom, a notorious woman found herself as the bread winner for her two sons who she had with James. Many say that is where Alexander got his fortitude, self control and determination. Rachel inherited a house, “the Grange” from her sister Ann and in her remarkable ways as a young woman in her time became quite the entrepreneur and before long she became quite wealthy and was able to provide for her boys. Alexander Hamilton as a young lad enjoyed reading and amongst his favorites included Machiavelli’s “The Prince” and other poetry, sermons and devotionals. In January 1767 he and his mother became quite ill and she passed away. In a horrible fate Rachel’s ex husband came in the scene and claimed his right to the inheritance leaving Alexander and his brother once again in poverty. An avid reader and eager to learn and study, the toughened Alexander Hamilton made it into Columbia University but it was not without its own commotion as the ship he was on headed to New York through Boston caught fire. He eventually make it to New York where he knew a very wealthy man there by the name of Edward Stevens. A man who historians have often asserted was Alexander Hamilton’s real father. Hamilton became an author and began writing what was published as the now renowned Federalist papers. A decorated revolutionary war hero after he took up for the Patriots cause, Hamilton advanced in ranks to become Major General. George Washington was so impressed with the decorated general that when Washington became President he asked Hamilton to be his Secretary of Treasury, a position that forever divided the political views in the United States. Hamilton addressed the liabilities incurred from the Revolutionary War and established a plan to consolidat the American debt and instituted a modern financial system that would be most beneficial to the Federal Government. A division occurred within the members of Congress with half opposed and half in favor of the plan. The Federalists view as supported by Hamilton is evident today in the current Federal Reserve policies and actions imposed by Bernard Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. Actions such as expanding the Federal Reserve balance sheet, declaring temporary tax cuts are all consistent with the advocated Federalists view of a centralized Government. Without the ability to quickly and aggressively manage severe economic periods; the United States would not be viewed as the reserve currency of choice in the world today.