Research Paper on:
Alexander Hamilton, American by Richard Brookhiser

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by most Americans as "the money guy," the chief financial officer who took over the nations books and balanced them (4). Brookhiser argues that Hamiltons accomplishments run far deeper into  the fabric of American history. He shows how Hamilton had risen from obscurity to make a name for himself and that it was Hamiltons goal to generalize this experience -  to help others have the opportunities necessary to become "self-made" men (4). It is for this reason that Brookhiser argues that Hamilton was a "great man and a great American"  (4). Despite the accolades, Brookhiser does not avoided the less attractive attributes of Hamilton - his favoritism toward the rich and the aristocracy, his distaste for democratic  rule. However, Brookhiser gives ample evidence that Hamiltons vision for his adopted country has been highly influential in determining Americas destiny. In supporting this theme, Brookhiser highlights Hamiltons many accomplishments,  particularly ones that have been traditionally overlooked. For example, Brookhiser points out that Hamiltons career as a lawyer has "fallen into obscurity" (10). Hamilton was an excellent trial lawyer and  one of the greatest American constitutional lawyers, which is not surprising considering that he helped to write the Constitution (10). Justice John Marshall, who is considered the father of judicial  review, said that he felt like a candle "beside the sun at noonday" when comparing his career to that of Hamilton (11). It is from this perspective that Brookhiser  gives the reader a comprehensive overview of Hamiltons life and accomplishments. The chapter on his youth recounts his the circumstances of his birth as the illegitimate child of a Scottish  peddler in the British West Indies, and his coming to America at the age of fifteen. The chapter on the Revolutionary War recounts his experience as a member of