Document Type
Class Paper
Publication Date
11-4-2013
Abstract
Alexander Hamilton, one of the original founding fathers, has been under scrutiny by historians for several years over his belief on the issue of slavery. Hamilton was one of the most influential people in the framing of the Constitution. He wrote many letters back and forth to James Madison while they wrote the Federalist Papers. Hamilton’s opinion on the issue of slavery, unlike Madison’s, is somewhat of a mystery. Some historians argue he was against slavery in principle and the presence of it in the United States, others say he supported slavery in its entirety.
Evidences for both sides of the argument are present, but the most recent scholarly arguments, which have come within the last decade, argue that Hamilton personally opposed slavery. However, he chose to follow the law on things such as returning a slave to their owner.
When asking a non-historian, “Who was Alexander Hamilton?” Most people are going to say either “The guy on the ten-dollar bill” or “The guy who got shot by the other guy in a duel.” Though he is known for these two things (being on the ten-dollar bill and his death from a duel with Aaron Burr), Alexander Hamilton was much more than these two things. He was a man of many talents. During the American Revolution, he was, through his many political connections in New York, an aide for generals Nathaniel Greene, Henry Knox, and his favorite, General George Washington. Much like Marquis De Lafayette, Hamilton was thought of as a son that George Washington never had.
Recommended Citation
Sowell, Jake, "The Alexander Hamilton and Slavery Debate" (2013). History Class Publications. 38.
https://scholarlycommons.obu.edu/history/38
Comments
Research Seminar