The America that Alexander Hamilton knew was largely agricultural and
built on slave labor. He envisioned something else: a multi-racial,
urbanized, capitalistic America with a strong central government. He
believed that such an America would be a land of opportunity for the
poor and the newcomers. But Hamilton's vision put him at odds with his
archrivals who envisioned a pastoral America of small towns, where
governments were local, states would control their own destiny, and the
federal government would remain small and weak.
The disputes that arose during America's first decades continued through
American history to our present day. Over time, because of the systems
Hamilton set up and the ideas he left, his vision won out. Here is the
story that epitomizes the American dream--a poor immigrant who made good
in America. In the end, Hamilton rose from poverty through his
intelligence and ability, and did more to shape our country than any of
his contemporaries.
Related subjects and concepts discussed in the book include:
Law and Legal Concepts
Due process
Bill of Rights
Freedom of Speech and the Press
Originalism / nonoriginalism (theories of Constitutional interpretation)
Government
Checks and Balances
Democracy
Electoral College
Republic
Financial Concepts
Capitalism
Credit
Inflation
Interest
Mercantilism
Securities: Stocks and Bonds
Tariffs
Taxes
Miscellaneous
Demagogues
Dueling
Pastoralism
About the Series
The Making of America series traces the constitutional history of the
United States through overlapping biographies of American men and women.
The debates that raged when our nation was founded have been argued ever
since: How should the Constitution be interpreted? What is the meaning,
and where are the limits of personal liberty? What is the proper role of
the federal government? Who should be included in "we the people"? Each
biography in the series tells the story of an American leader who helped
shape the United States of today.
