
Alexander Hamilton was a founding father of the United States and a passionate advocate for the ratification of the Constitution. He was a delegate to the Philadelphia Convention in 1787, which drafted the US Constitution, and he later joined James Madison and John Jay in writing the Federalist Papers in support of ratification. Hamilton wrote the majority of the essays, which were published in New York State newspapers. He also served as the delegate to the New York ratifying convention in Poughkeepsie in 1788, where he convinced the initially Anti-Federalist state to ratify the Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wanted to create a stable financial foundation for the nation | |
| Wanted to increase the power of the central government | |
| Wanted to secure federal credit | |
| Wanted to encourage expansion of manufacturing | |
| Wanted to organise the federal bank | |
| Wanted to persuade readers to support ratification of the U.S. Constitution |
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What You'll Learn

Hamilton's role in drafting the Constitution
Alexander Hamilton was a founding father of the United States and played an important role in drafting the Constitution. In 1787, he attended the Constitutional Convention at Independence Hall in Philadelphia as a member of Congress. He then joined James Madison and John Jay in writing the Federalist Papers, a series of 85 essays published in New York State newspapers to persuade readers to support ratification of the Constitution. Hamilton wrote the majority of the essays, completing 51 in total.
Hamilton's efforts were successful in convincing New York, which was initially Anti-Federalist, to ratify the Constitution. He served as the delegate to the New York ratifying convention in Poughkeepsie in the summer of 1788. After George Washington was elected the nation's first president in 1789, he appointed Hamilton as the first secretary of the treasury. In this role, Hamilton sought to create a stable financial foundation for the nation and increase the power of the central government. He devised plans for funding the national debt, securing federal credit, encouraging the expansion of manufacturing, and organizing the federal bank.
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Hamilton's role in the Federalist Papers
Alexander Hamilton was a founding father of the United States who fought in the American Revolutionary War. He was passionate about the ratification of the Constitution, which he helped draft, and played a key role in its adoption. Hamilton served as the first secretary of the treasury under President George Washington, and was responsible for building the economic system that enabled the new nation to survive.
Hamilton was the driving force behind the Federalist Papers, a series of 85 essays published in New York State newspapers. He wrote 51 of the essays, the majority of the total, and was joined in the endeavour by James Madison and John Jay. The Federalist Papers were written to persuade readers to support ratification of the US Constitution. Hamilton's efforts were successful, and New York, which was initially Anti-Federalist, ratified the new Constitution.
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Hamilton's role in the New York ratifying convention
Alexander Hamilton was a founding father of the United States and a passionate advocate for the ratification of the Constitution. He helped draft the Constitution and wrote the majority of the 85 essays known as the Federalist Papers, which were published in New York State newspapers and were written to persuade readers to support ratification.
In the summer of 1788, Hamilton served as the delegate to the New York Ratifying Convention in Poughkeepsie. He was elected as one of the delegates in April of that year. Hamilton was initially outnumbered at the convention, with 47 anti-Federalists to 19 Federalists. However, he spoke 26 times in support of the Constitution, arguing eloquently, passionately, and logically, and he convinced New York to ratify the new Constitution. Hamilton's arguments for ratification were largely iterations of work from the Federalist Papers.
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Hamilton's role as the first secretary of the treasury
Alexander Hamilton wanted the Constitution ratified because he believed it would create a more centralised federal national government and provide a stable financial foundation for the nation. He was a passionate advocate for the ratification of the Constitution, writing the majority of the Federalist Papers, a series of 85 essays published in New York State newspapers to persuade readers to support it.
Hamilton served as the first secretary of the treasury from 1789 to 1795. In this role, he was the founder and architect of the American financial system. He designed a Treasury Department for the collection and disbursement of public revenue, but also for the promotion of the economic development of the country. He sought to create a strong, centrally controlled Treasury, and to increase the power of the central government. He devised plans for funding the national debt, securing federal credit, encouraging the expansion of manufacturing, and organising the federal bank. In 1790, in his Report on Public Credit, he urged that the federal government assume the Revolutionary War debts of the 13 states. He also made the First Bank of the United States a centerpiece of his financial plan.
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Hamilton's role in the Annapolis Convention
Alexander Hamilton was a passionate advocate for the ratification of the Constitution. He joined James Madison and John Jay in writing the Federalist Papers, a series of 85 essays published in New York State newspapers, which were designed to persuade readers to support ratification. Hamilton wrote the majority of these essays, completing 51 in total.
Hamilton's efforts to ratify the Constitution were not without opposition. Initially, New York was Anti-Federalist, but through his arguments, Hamilton convinced the state to ratify the new Constitution. Hamilton's arguments for ratification were largely iterations of work from the Federalist Papers. However, some critics argue that the vote was more out of necessity than Hamilton's rhetoric.
After George Washington was elected the nation's first president in 1789, he appointed Hamilton as the first secretary of the treasury. In this role, Hamilton sought to create a stable financial foundation for the nation and increase the power of the central government. He devised plans for funding the national debt, securing federal credit, encouraging the expansion of manufacturing, and organizing the federal bank. Hamilton was also responsible for urging the federal government to assume the Revolutionary War debts of the 13 states.
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Frequently asked questions
Hamilton wanted to create a stable financial foundation for the nation and increase the power of the central government.
Hamilton joined James Madison and John Jay in writing the Federalist Papers in support of ratification, penning the majority of the essays.
The Federalist Papers were a series of 85 essays published in New York State newspapers to persuade readers to support ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
Hamilton wrote 51 of the 85 Federalist Papers.
Hamilton's efforts convinced New York, which was initially Anti-Federalist, to ratify the new Constitution.

























