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You will learn a lot about Hamilton and the out sized role he played in the founding of the United States. Because he was never president, people seem to forget about Alexander Hamilton. You will also learned more about the debates that defined how much ability our federal government should have to act for the nation, as opposed to the individual states. There is not much to add that has not already been said in these reviews, but I give this book my strongest endorsement. I neglected reading it for years because of the length, but once I did I was extremely impressed both by the book itself and Hamilton's life. Although states rights are important, our nation would not have flourished without the stronger federal government Hamilton argued for and Washington enacted. Many of Hamilton's opponents realized this when they reached power in the executive branch, notably Thomas Jefferson and James Madison (who had actually argued Hamilton's position previously).
Hamilton basically invented our American credit/capitalist system and Chernow tells the story in a way that is easy to understand and completely enlightening. The intellect of Hamilton was second to none and his story of rising up on pure talent during an age where family background was everything is inspirational.
Alexander Hamilton is most famously known for dying in a duel, and his major contributions to our country involved his economic proposals. When I first picked up this book, I was not sure if I was going to enjoy the subject.
The story of Hamilton's life from his earliest years through college and into the revolution were fascinating. With that said, Chernow takes Hamilton's story and brings it to life.
While reading this book, I felt like I was reading a fast-paced novel. The story actually became more interesting when Hamilton became Washington's Secretary of the Treasury.
A fabulous book that I would recommend to any fan of history.
He enrolls at King's College (present day Columbia) in New York and immediately embraces the revolutionary cause with many pamphlets and essay's that denounce the violence associated with most of the revolutionary causes, but advocates the idea of freedom and liberty.Chernow's account of the early revolution and Hamilton's role in it is masterful. Chernow describes the many policies enacted under Hamilton and also clarifies the issues that led to his resignation in 1794. Chernow, now in his element, takes us through a complex period whereby Hamilton joins the 1787 Constitutional Convention and, with James Madison, pens the Federalist Papers soliciting support for the new constitution.he becomes the only New York representative to sign the historic document. Here we see Hamilton's early intelligence as evidenced by many letters and writings. Chernow's Hamilton is so diverse and interesting that the 738 pages of text virtually fly by.The reader is instantly impressed with Chernow's research and writing when in reading the first chapter we discover the vast amount of information uncovered concerning Hamilton's birth and childhood.
The loss of his mother at an early age has an unmistakable affect as does the subsequent shuffling from one guardian to another. Confrontations with Jefferson, Adams and the afore mentioned Burr place Hamilton at the political edge. This could possibly be the best biography written for any founding father or for any figure in history for that matter. From the early taxation by the British to the beginning of the war, the sense of the coming storm is palpable.
Hamilton is at his most volatile and prolific at this point and Chernow is expert at cataloging the important points. The emergence of the two party political system is fostered by Hamilton and he cannot resist involvement.using what's left of his reputation, he influences many elections and appointments both on the state and federal level. In fact it's his essay on the devastation to his home caused by a hurricane that ultimately gets him out of the Caribbean and into the British colony of New Jersey. Hamilton's actions mirror the colonialists as outrage after outrage provoke pre-revolutionary war protest. Chernow describes the duel in vivid detail making it impossible to not side with Hamilton.his death then becomes a testament to a noble life.The final installments of the book follow Burr post duel and an entire chapter is devoted to his wife Eliza.
It should be a law that all important figures in history receive the biographical treatment that Ron Chernow provides Alexander Hamilton. It is also at this point that he encounters Aaron Burr and the two become polar opposites.Washington appoints Hamilton to be the first Treasury Secretary and it's here that he establishes his reputation as the foremost forward thinker of the founding fathers. Organizing a form of government that in many cases exists today, Hamilton ruled over the financial sector of the country with an iron hand. The volatile Hamilton's reputation takes an irreversible turn with the emergence of the "Reynolds Affair" where romance, bribery and treachery reduce Hamilton to mere mortal status. Again he becomes a profound voice in the cause publishing many pieces in the local newspapers and resorting to violence by joining the New York militia only when all else fails.He establishes himself as a fearless and brave soldier ultimately receiving an invitation to become George Washington's chief of staff and acquits himself famously in the battle at Yorktown. Chernow continues the eloquent writing to the end and serves Hamilton's reputation well. Born in Nevis of the British West Indies to an unwed mother, Chernow colorfully describes growing up in the Caribbean and the young prodigy's early influences.
A must read for the historian and anyone interested in the finest of writing, Ron Chernow deserves his reputation as an important chronicler of history's important figures. In Hamilton, we discover that he best responds to the repressing treatment by the British with his intellect rather than violence. Resigning his commission due to perceived inadequacies with the Congress, he then becomes elected to that same body. In fact it's his involvement with the 1804 New York gubernatorial election where he fights to keep Vice President Burr from becoming governor that sets the stage for the famous duel fought at Weehawken, New Jersey. I give this my highest recommendation.
But the length and depth are not demerits; if anything, Chernow uses his extensive palette so well that I was inspired to delve into *other* biographies -- if only to affirm or critique his research on Hamilton's often vicious rivals (Jefferson and Adams in particular) and his centuries-old reputation as a "closet monarchist" and corruptible financier. He often overused a poison pen and foolishly kept an extorting mistress.Ron Chernow doesn't answer my question but he addresses pretty much everything else anyone may want to know about our first treasury secretary -- and for good measure rather convincingly makes the case for Hamilton's enshrinement. My non-exhaustive experience with that term suggests a tortured response: Hamilton was younger than all the founders and came late to the party, joining the Continental army directly from college. Only the first third or so of the book gives in to this kind of pencil-twirling and I was far from sorry to see it go.
He seems to have been loathed by almost everyone, especially the troika of future Virginia-born presidents: Jefferson, Madison (his onetime collaborator on The Federalist) and Monroe. Does Alexander Hamilton even qualify as a founding father. This inspiration already had me checking the classic '20s-era historian Vernon Louis Parrington (also in Chernow's bibliography) who clearly falls into the Hamilton stereotype camp, observing that "[Hamilton] was frankly a monarchist, and he urged the monarchical principle with Hobbesian logic" and as a financier "accepted frankly the principle of exploitation."If Chernow eviscerates these myths he unfortunately dabbles in a few of his own. but not a great American." Ron Chernow begs to differ and with this book most definitely makes his case. Chernow tells his story as a uniquely American one when America was barely born: an illegitimate Caribbean-born youngster who met all the enemies and faults named above with astounding brains and confidence.
The only major annoyance I had with this biography was an occasional unsupported conjecture on Hamilton's motives and influences ("could it be that he was really."), particularly regarding his ignoble origins and relationship with Washington. The fact that most Americans probably only know Hamilton as either the face on the 10-dollar bill or the losing dueler to the unscrupulous Aaron Burr is an unearned wound that Chernow's work does much to heal. (John Adams apparently pointed out this "lack of historical perspective" on many occasions). The only other drawback worth mentioning is an occasional narrowing of the narrative: describing, say, Hamilton's family life in minutiae not really relevant to his other exploits. Beyond the monumental task of setting up the financial system of the fledgling United States (and thereby establishing its trade and credit statuses), he won the bedrock confidence of the man who -- at the time -- pushed all the other founders into the background: George Washington.How Hamilton mastered his fate is a fascinating story and Chernow tells it with detail that sometimes proceeds at an almost daily pace.
Merely observing that this biography on a less-than-prominent (to this point) founder coasts past eight hundred pages might be enough to give an interested reader pause. But neither of these difficulties detracts from the comprehensiveness or clarity of the work.Parrington notes that Woodrow Wilson found Hamilton "a very great man. I truly hope future historians adsorb the rehabilitation that shines through its unrelenting detail.
Third, he created the first federal reserve bank for the entire US, a massively useful economic actor (making easier credit available to entrepreneurs); even more significant, however, he established "implied powers" for the federal government with the incorporation of the bank, which enabled it to adapt its activities in accordance with developments in the society and economy. He had the energy and drive of Lyndon Johnson and the scholarly credentials and writing ability of Thomas Jefferson. To be sure, it was luck that placed him in the thick of a revolution that created a new form of government, but he got himself there without privileged connections or money. This was accomplished in exchange for a political accommodation with the Virginians, to make DC the nation's capital. This is absolutely first rate biography and a history of an incredibly tumultuous time, an intellectual adventure that is not to be missed. There can be no doubt that he had a self destructive streak, which led directly to his fatal duel with Burr. Chernow approves of them all, which he argues form the foundation of the economy as well. They argued that the federal government should not be allowed to do anything that was not directly and explicitly mandated by the constitution, i.e.
they were the first "strict constructionists." As the reader can see, these fault lines exist even today. Hamilton is viewed as a political genius and economic visionary of the highest order, which I believe he was. But it is clear that Jefferson's economic vision - for an agrarian republic without speculators and financial fat cats - was ludicrously unrealistic and deficient. Once in power - as Secretary of the Treasury, i.e.
Second, he got the federal government to "assume" the war debt of the separate states, which established it as the highest arbiter of taxes and public debt and improved America's credit worthiness. a bureaucrat with his hold on Washington's ear - he created a number of precedents that decisively shaped the American political system. Chernow is definitely a partisan in favor of Hamilton, but he is by no means a hagiographer, a distinction that I believe is missed by many reviewers critical of his positive treatment.Hamilton is one of those extraordinary achievers you find every few decades in politics. Chernow's take on the players is multifaceted and extremely valuable. This book succeeds at that brilliantly, in what I believe will stand as a classic interpretation for a very long time. They also accused Hamilton of designs to become an American Napoleon, with a corrupt political base that would render him invulnerable. First, he decided not to discriminate against speculators who bought up the back pay of Revolutionary War veterans, which while highly controversial established the principle of a free market for federal securities.
the architect of the entire political system.Equally fascinating are the portraits of Hamilton's political opposition. He also needed the anchor of Washington, who held many of his impulses in check, channeling his energy as great managers can do. I have long hoped to find a bio of this founding father that went into the details of what he accomplished in context, without the obscuring myth or ridiculous wisdom in hindsight. However, he was also thin skinned and lacked the political sense of when to keep his mouth shut or wait for the fight timing - hence he expounded on the details of the extramarital affair that severely damaged his career and railed against political adversaries. He just got it all out and was easily insulted and sidetracked by personal slights to his honor (a feudal remnant). Jefferson receives the heaviest criticism, coming off as a kind of demagogue prototype that would rival, say, Sarah Palin today (he stood for similar libertarian impulses, manipulated things behind the scenes while letting others do the dirty work, and created a political persona that brought him to power with blatant hypocrisy).
First and foremost were Jefferson and Madison, both political geniuses in their own right and shrewd infighters. Hamilton's vision of an activist government and urban-based economy of trade and manufacturing won out hands down.Warmly recommended. He was also a war hero and trusted aide to GW, and friends with virtually all of the great personages in the US at the time, all of whom are wonderfully described.What is most important is the influence he had on the interpretation of the constitution, which he helped to craft from his writing and political activity. I will have to investigate him further, which is the greatest sign of a successful reading experience in my view. In sum, he was the great enabler of federal action, i.e. Essentially, they feared that Hamilton was expanding the government's power to levels that would lead to monarchy or dictatorship at the expense of both individuals and states of the union.
While I am undecided about Jefferson, Chernow does quite a job on him and has forever changed my perception of him. The writing is stunningly beautiful in its eloquence and exposition of the mechanics of the economy and politics of that time.
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