Advanced Essay 4: Alexander Hamilton, the Hero of our Nation

Alexander Hamilton, the man made famous in the 21st Century by a Broadway show. He was the man that documented the Coast Guard, was the top aide to George Washington, created our financial system, and embodied the influence and power of chance that our country holds for so many. When Hamilton first entered the borders of the United States to study in New York, the Revolutionary War was on the verge of beginning. The Revolutionary War was the armed conflict between the 13 colonies of North America (later to be known as the United States) and Great Britain. With the help of allies, the colonies ended up winning in 1783, after a eight year war filled with deaths and terror, and the United States became free formally in 1783 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris.

Alexander Hamilton was born in the West Indies, a top export to Britain in the 18th Century. He was “a bastard, orphan, son of a whore”, who conquered all the stereotypes to become one of the top political advisers in the late 18th Century to the 19th Century. His mother was divorced before meeting Alexander’s father and through that, Alexander was immediately seen as less than other kids his age. He immigrated to the colonies with the funds of a scholarship created by his neighbors who saw strong potential in the book obsessed, intelligent young man. From then on he was an immigrant also, beginning his studies at King's College. In 1775, he became a member of a militia company.

By 1776, he was appointed as captain to his company, a group of other army folk from across the 13 colonies. The company he inspired, is the longest consecutively serving company in the US Army. Soon afterwards, he became the top aide to George Washington. Hamilton was put in charge of a wide range of military conflicts and intel as one of the most important confidants of the army general. Hamilton was the first person to make contact with British troops during the battle of Yorktown. He was on the front line and captivated a daring personality during the battle that ultimately designed our country. After Yorktown, with the exception of Washington, Hamilton was the most popular figure in the 13 colonies. Washington trusted Hamilton’s opinion during intel conversations greater than anyone else. From that, Hamilton played a top settler on militarial intelligence and participated in top communications during battles. Hamilton played a key role in Yorktown and other conflicts.

Washington and Hamilton were adoringly close. Their relationship was admired as a father and son relationship, one filled with trust, admiration, and grit. Considering that Hamilton had never had an acquaintance with his father, Washington became the father like figure of the young scholar. In a famous picture, on a battleground stand the two. With Washington being much taller than Hamilton, he stands tall and confident with his hand placed admirably on his beloved horse. Hamilton with his shorter and prouder manner, stands in a insightful fashion near his adored friend. The two prop on a battlefield, the area where the two of them became close and joined together in a mission to acquire their joint country (or adopted country in the case of Hamilton) to create the greatest United States of America that was possible.

Hamilton’s views were transferred and created by his role in the army, playing a deep root in his values as he grew to become a political top aide. Hamilton understood the importance of the army but also the importance of valuing human life and creating a cap to place war as the last resort. His close relationship with a military hero, George Washington, had deep meaning for the rest of his life. His time in the military changed him and history. From a review of the 1999 book, Republican Empire: Alexander Hamilton on War and Free Government, by the Independent Review “The greatest differences between Hamilton and his political opponents involved war. Distrusting the intentions of all the great powers of Europe, Hamilton feared that war was right around the corner and that a responsible administration had to prepare the country for it. His opponents were less fearful of war and more trusting of European intentions. By the end of the 1790s, those opponents included not only Jefferson and Madison, but also President John Adams, who resented Washington’s insistence that Hamilton be commissioned a major general and made inspector-general, akin to today’s army chief of staff, during the quasi-war with France.”

Without Hamilton’s views and inputs in the early years of our country, our country would not be the same. Hamilton believed that putting funds and intelligence into defense for the United States would allow us to become the most powerful nation on earth. As we see now, just under a third of our country’s budget goes to the military and it was due to Hamilton who advocated for that to be done. During the times of Hamilton this could have been more useful, considering there were many more reasons to have input in the defense of a brand new country. Hamilton changed the role of the US and its military in the world.  

Hamilton believed in the United States of America and all it could achieve. Through his outspoken values and his creative, non stop writings, Hamilton established his name in the history books of our country. Yet, through remembering all that he achieved to create the country that now stands above all in terms of economic and military power, Hamilton helped make this country. Without Hamilton our military wouldn’t be the same. Our stance in the world wouldn’t be the same. And by God, our country would not be the same.

Hamilton changed history. Without Hamilton our country would be different. There would not be such an input in our countries military and intelligence. The US became the greatest world power in World War One, in many ways due to the influence of its military in domestic and international affairs. Without Hamilton’s input to get to that point of putting the military over many other domestic issues, our country wouldn’t be the same it is now. The US is powerful (whether you like it or not) due in part of the funds to the military. To get rid of those ideas would be to get rid of Hamilton. Our idea of a free press would hold no truth without his intense writings that captivated citizens. Without Hamilton, our country wouldn’t be the way it is. Hamilton created the United States of America and he should be remembered as more than a $10 bill. He deserves the respect that we accomplish to all other founding fathers. His mark is strong. Hamilton is the one that made the US and the world what it is.

"ALEXANDER HAMILTON." ALEXANDER HAMILTON. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2016.  http://www.history.army.mil/books/revwar/ss/hamilton.htm

"Alexander Hamilton." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2016.  http://www.ushistory.org/brandywine/special/art08.htm