HELP PLEASE Alexander Hamilton is the Founding Father pictured on the ten-dollar bill. Unlike George Washington (on quarters and dollar bills), or Thomas Jefferson (on nickels and two-dollar bills), Hamilton was never elected president. The two facts people most often recall about Hamilton are that he served as the first secretary of the treasury and that he was killed by Aaron Burr in a duel. He deserves more credit than those two facts suggest. His presence on the ten-dollar bill shows that he played a crucial role in the early years of our country.
Although many key figures from early history came from privileged backgrounds, Hamilton grew up in poverty in the West Indies. He was such a brilliant child that a kindly churchman arranged for his schooling in New York, where he attended King’s College, now Columbia University.
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Hamilton first achieved distinction during the Revolutionary War. His abilities attracted the attention of George Washington, who appointed him an aide-de-camp and relied on him as a personal secretary and adviser. Later in the war, Hamilton resigned as aide to lead troops directly in battle.
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Hamilton became a successful attorney and an important figure in New York and national politics after the war. His support for a strong central government helped bring about the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Hamilton was one of the authors of the Federalist Papers which defended the new Constitution. Appointed by Washington as secretary of the treasury, Hamilton’s fiscal policies ensured the stability of the new republic. His rivalry with Thomas Jefferson helped spark the rise of the political parties in the United States.
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Even after Hamilton resigned his office, he remained influential on the national stage and in the New York politics. His opposition to another New York politician, Aaron Burr, led to the infamous duel and Hamilton’s untimely death.
The man who killed Alexander Hamilton will probably never appear on U. S. currency. Aaron Burr’s early career showed great promise. Born in Princeton, New Jersey, he was the son of a president of Princeton College and the grandson of a famous clergyman. At age 16, Burr graduated from Princeton. His pursuit of further studies was interrupted by the American Revolution. Burr distinguished himself on the field and briefly joined General Washington’s staff. However, Burr’s relationship with Washington was never close or easy, and the young hero returned to the battlefield, eventually leading a regiment.
7 After he left the army, Burr began a hugely successful legal career in New York, often crossing paths with Alexander Hamilton in social and professional settings. He became active in state politics and was elected to the U. S. Senate. Burr’s relationship with Hamilton turned unfriendly as the men assumed leadership of opposing political parties in New York. In the disputed presidential election of 1800, Hamilton’s role in ensuring that Burr was elected vice president rather than president increased the antagonism between the two men.
Burr reached the peak of his political career as vice president. After that, he was alienated from his own party. Aware that he would not be nominated again, he unsuccessfully ran for governor of New York. Burr blamed Hamilton for his political troubles. In July 1804, the U. S. vice president fatally wounded his rival in a duel.
Burr’s misfortunes and misconduct did not end with the duel. He became involved in a plot to detach the Louisiana Territory from the United States and apparently to crown himself emperor. He was tried for treason in 1807 but acquitted. In disgrace, Burr fled to Europe for four years. He returned to New York to practice law and died in penniless obscurity at the age of 80.

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