Alexander Hamilton Influence

Alexander Hamilton: The Other Side of the Revolution Often when one thinks of the American Revolution or the American Enlightenment, the philosophies and contributions of men like Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin are taken into consideration. Indeed they were great thinkers and very pivotal figures in our country's liberation from Great Britain, however more people played a role in accomplishing this great task. America's founding fathers consisted of several of men, all of whom contributed unique and innovative ideas that would eventually helped to shape our country. Heavily influenced by men such as Locke, Rousseau, and Paine, a great deal of the ideas and political plans which emerged during the 18th century were focused solely
Croix, Nicholas Cruger. Each of these men contributed something uniquely to Hamilton, that as a young man he could not receive from his family. Knox, according to Brookheiser, is credited by Hamilton as introducing him to "two new worlds….learning and North America". Knox was interested in education and had plans to teach to local slaves. He himself had been educated at the College of New Jersey in Princeton, which was at that time the finest school in the Thirteen Colonies. Hamilton would follow in Knox's lead, taking a stern interest in education and rapidly excelling at some of the finest institutions. Eventually, his enthusiasm for knowledge would gain him esteem as one of the greatest intellects of the 18th century. (Brookhiser, p.
For this he is widely regarded as the greatest secretary of the treasury in the history of the republic and perhaps the greatest financer who ever lived; however the issue of Hamilton's legacy and contributions not being portrayed in the same greatness as a Jefferson or Franklin, still remains. Rather than being a part of the on Mt. Rushmore monument, he is awarded with his face on the $10 bill. Hamilton had a vision that looked to the future. He was more interested in building a great nation than in conserving any remnants of the past. Not only did play a central role in shaping the new nation, he left a larger body of written material than any other founder. His life was a mirror for politics as well as morality, for public as well as private life. His political policies appealed to citizens and what they needed in order to fulfill themselves and he should be remembered as one who devoted his life to the America's growth in freedom and