Proposal - l I would like to write about Alexander Hamilton because he was the first treasurer of the USA and he was aide-de-camp to George Washington. He has a same first name as me and he is a treasurer like I want to be. He was killed by Burr in a duel. I want to learn what his life was about.                                                                                  

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Listen to AN INTERVIEW WITH ALEXANDER HAMILTON  

     When you hear the name Alexander Hamilton you probably do not think of a poor family, a person who died in a duel with Aaron Burr or someone that was born on Nevis Island, British West Indies.   These are just a few events that happened during his life.

Alexander Hamilton was born on January 11, 1755 on Nevis Island, British West Indies. His father was James Hamilton. James did not have job because he had bad manners. His mother was named Rachel; she also did not have a job. Alexander’s brother was named James Jr.; James was born 2 years before Alexander.  Alexander’s mom taught him to read French and English and also taught him to write. Alexander had an interest in reading about war heroes and wars. His father moved away to America because he wanted to start a new life and leave the old one behind.

After his father moved away his mother opened a sewing shop. People thought that Alexander was a poor orphan boy. He did not like that people thought he was an orphan. Alexander’s mother died when he was 13. Alexander worked for a company that sold merchandise around the world. The company gave him money to go to school in America.

Once in America, Alexander married Elizabeth (aka) Betsy Schyler. They had eight children named Phillip 1797-1801, Angelico 1784-1854, Alexander Jr. 1782-? , James 1788-? , John 1792-? , Williom 1797 -1850, Eliza 1791- ?, and Phillip 2 1802-?. They lived in New York. Alex’s jobs were a treasurer, lawyer, and congresses man. Alexander helped George Washington as an aide. Alexander created the Federalist Party.

He fought with Thomas Jefferson frequently. They created the Democratic Party and Republican Party because they fought.  The Federalist Party ended because these new parties were made though Hamilton’s ideas about government are still considered very important. Alexander, James Madison and John Jay wrote a book called The Federalist. Alex helped write the Declaration of Independence.

Alexander got in a duel with Aaron Burr when Burr and Jefferson were tied in votes for president.Alexander voted for Jefferson. Burr wanted to run for governor but he blamed Alexander for not giving him the parties. Alexander did not fire at Burr because he did not want to kill him. Alex died on July11, 1804.

If it was not for Alexander Hamilton’s contribution to the Declaration of Independence, we may not be free from England as we are today. Also he helped create the Democratic Party and Republican Party.     

Collier, James Lincoln.  Alexander Hamilton You Never Knew.  New York:  Children Press, 2003.

Mcleelse.  Alexander Hamilton: Heroes of the Revolution.  Vero Beach, Florida: Rouke, 2005.

“Alexander Hamilton Biography.” 4/1/2010.  http://www.biography.com

Alex slept on the floor. His mother owned fourteen plate’s eleven cups and saucers, four dresses, one hat, two dressers, and one bed. Alexander and James slept on the floor. They were very poor.