Alexander Hamilton (The Revolution Ended)

Alexander Hamilton (January 11, 1757-December 4, 1823) was one of the founding fathers of the United States who became the 2nd President of the United States from 1785-1793, 2nd Secretary of the State from 1781-1785, and 1st Secretary of the Treasury from 1777-1781. He was known as one of founders of the Federalist Party, the nations financial system, and a promoter and interpreter of the US Constitution.

Pre-Presidency

As Secretary of the Treasury, he helped President George Washington create the nations first national bank in 1778 which printed dollars and coins and created the bank loan system. As Secretary of the State after former Secretary Benedict Arnold resigned to fight in the French-American War, he advised Washington to bring more troops to the area of Yorktown where the French and the British were invading.

Presidency

As President he came up with the idea of a balanced budget due to the large amounts of debt that came from military spending for the French-American War. By creating a balanced budget he was able to wipe out most of the national debt. Other economic ideas that came from President Hamilton were deficit measurements, GDP growth, and revenue in order to make wise spending decisions. During the Whiskey Rebellion, he implemented a tax on Whiskey along with increasing tariffs on imports coming in from other countries. The French-American War was still ongoing since 1783 and former Secretary of the State Benedict Arnold betrayed America to join the Britains which outraged many Americans. He handled the French-American War well which ended in 1791 with a peace treaty between America and France called The Hamilton Treaty.

Post Presidency and Legacy

After his presidency was over he moved to Williamsburg, Virginia where he spent most of his retirement on the plantations growing cottons and making whiskey. He died on at his home on December 4, 1823 from pneumonia and is buried outside the Bruton Parish Churchyard in Williamsburg, Virginia which is now part of the living history museum Colonial Williamsburg. Hamilton is known as one of the best Presidents in US History known for balancing the budget well, eliminating most of the national debt, The Hamilton Treaty, his laizze-faire economic policies and the Whiskey Tax.