Alexander+Hamilton+-+SP09

Federalist
 * Alexander Hamilton**

-New York was experiencing an uphill struggle, burdened by its own heavily anti-federalist state convention -Could not prosper apart from the Union
 * State Represented**: New York

-Studied at King's College (gained fame for pro-patriot writings and speeches) -Distinguished military career and close association with George Washington -New York volunteer militia -Rank of Lieutenant Colonel in Washington's Staff -Washington's Chief of Staff -Married into a prominent New York family -Was known as a strong nationalist and had elitist political views -Elected to Congress of the Confederation (New York)
 * Occupation/Socio-economic Background:**

-Hamilton was a New York delegate for the Constitutional Convention, but his influence was relatively limited -His two fellow delegates, Lansing and Yates were opponents of any new national government, and carried New York's vote against his -Out of frustration he left the Convention on June 30th -He returned to the Convention on August 13th -He gave a five hour speech on how he thought that the new national government should be run -Hamilton wrote up a plan that was never presented to the other members of the Convention but had the basic characteristics of the Constitution
 * Constitutional Convention:**


 * Vote:** Alexander Hamilton voted FOR the ratification of the Constitution

-George Washington -John Jay -John Adams (to a certain extent)
 * Friends of Alexander Hamilton:**

-Thomas Jefferson -Patrick Henry -Richard Henry Lee -Melancton Smith -Mercy Otis Warren
 * Foes of Alexander Hamilton:**

-Proposed to have an elected President and Senate (stronger executive branch) -Attempted to incorporate the "liberties of a republic" while "guarding against both anarchy and tyranny" -Did not have a government that relied on the wisdom of the people -Realized that having plurality in the executive branch would do nothing but cause more problems -People would not be able to tell where the blame needs to fall -Argued that the British Government was well laid out -Having one major power and then people to advise him is much smarter than having several different opinions
 * Arguments for Ratification:**

-Weak national government, too much power to the states -Provided no separate branches to help balance out power -No president or individual executive, no judiciary system -The Congress was the only section -Powers were not divided up well -States were permitted to have their own money which did nothing but separate the country even more -No regulations on commerce -States could declare treaty or wars with foreign nations -Congress could only request funds for the government
 * Against the Articles of Confederation:**


 * Bibliography:**

   (Primary Source) "Alexander Hamilton, An Address to the People of the State of New-York on the Subject of the Constitution." 12 February 2009. <*[|http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/digital/exhibitions/constitution/address/index.htm>.] (Print Source) Hamilton, Alexander, John Jay, and James Madison. __The Federalist Papers__. New York: Penguin Classics, 1987.  "The Defense of the Constitution of the Untied States." __Teaching American History__. Ashland University. 12 Feb. 2009 . The Federalist." //Left Justified Publiks.// 1997. 12 February 2009. <[|http://www.leftjustified.com/leftjust/lib/sc/ht/fed/jbio.html>.]