Sarah Albee - Alexander Hamilton: A Plan for America

Alexander Hamilton was a soldier,
a lawyer, and a financial wizard.
He had a brilliant mind.
George Washington trusted him.

But Hamilton was also stubborn
and proud.
His bold ideas angered some people.
Thomas Jefferson disagreed with him.
So did a man named Aaron Burr.

Alexander Hamilton was born
on a tiny British island
in the Caribbean.
His family was poor.
His father ran off,
and his mother died
when Alexander was eleven.

Alexander moved in with friends
and found a job in shipping.

When Alexander was a young teen,
his boss got sick, moved away,
and left Alexander in charge.
The boy ran the business by himself!

When Alexander was seventeen,
a hurricane struck the island.
He wrote a dramatic letter about it
that was published in a newspaper.
Some wealthy men were so impressed
that they sent the boy to college
in America, so he could study law.

There was talk of war with England.
Alexander joined the colonists side.
He gave speeches and wrote essays.
General Washington heard about
the bright young captain.
He made Alexander his aide.

But Alexander wanted to fight.
Finally, Washington agreed.
Hamilton helped defeat the British
at the Battle of Yorktown.

During the war, Hamilton met
and married Elizabeth Schuyler.
She was the daughter of a general.

After the war, the United States
were not very united.
The war had been expensive.
The government had borrowed money.
How would the war debts be paid?
Americans argued about
money, trade, taxes, and borders.

George Washington became president.
He chose Hamilton to be the first
secretary of the treasury.
Hamilton wanted every state to help
pay the young countrys debts.
Like Washington, Hamilton
believed in a good banking system,
a strong national government,
and a well- organized army.
But others disagreed.

Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson
disagreed with Hamilton.
Jefferson thought Americas future
should have farms, not factories.
On his own farm in Virginia,
slaves did most of the work.

Hamilton was against slavery.
He planned for banks, factories,
and businesses in Americas future.
His planning shaped the new country.

Hamilton created the Coast Guard.
He made plans that helped lower
Americas debt.
And he created the US Mint.
(The first coins were made from
Washingtons household silver.)

Then Washington stepped aside.
John Adams was elected president.
Hamilton went to New York.
He became an excellent lawyer.
But he kept writing about politics.

In 1800, Thomas Jefferson,
Aaron Burr, and John Adams
all received votes for president.
This time John Adams lost.
But Jefferson and Aaron Burr tied.
Hamilton thought
that Jefferson was a bad choice,
but Burr was worse.
With Hamiltons support,
Jefferson became president.

Then, in 1804, Burr ran
for governor of New York.
At a party, Hamilton said
he did not trust Burr.
He said that Burr was dangerous.
Burr lost the election.

Burr heard what Hamilton had said.
Burr wrote him an angry letter.
Hamilton refused to apologize.
Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel.

Hamilton and Burr both wanted
to settle their argument with honor.
They thought a duel was the answer.
Hamilton wrote a goodbye letter
to his wife just in case.