Alexander Hamilton (January 11, 1755 or 1757 – July 12, 1804) was one of the most influential of the United States' founding fathers. Elected a member of the Continental Congress in 1782, Hamilton at once became a leading proponent of a stronger national government than that provided for by the Articles of Confederation.
Hamilton was the obvious choice to be the first secretary of the treasury under the new constitution. Holding this office from Sept. 11, 1789, to Jan. 31, 1795, he proved himself a brilliant administrator both in organizing the Treasury Department and in assisting generally to set guidelines for and staff all the departments of government. Most notably, however, he sent reports to Congress on the public credit and on the national bank. Hamilton argued that if the nation was to grow and prosper, its credit would have to be sound to encourage both foreign and domestic investment.
Hamilton's own career was terminated prematurely when he was killed in a duel with Aaron Burr in 1804.
His brilliant Federalist Papers essays on the need for a stronger union, the utility of a national taxing power, and the importance of the executive and judicial branches of the federal government became classic statements of his political philosophy of strong leadership in the public interest.
FEDERALIST No. 49Method of Guarding Against the Encroachments of Any One Department of Government by Appealing to the People Through a Convention (Hamilton or Madison)
FEDERALIST No. 50Periodical Appeals to the People Considered (Hamilton or Madison)
FEDERALIST No. 51The Structure of the Government Must Furnish the Proper Checks and Balances Between the Different Departments (Hamilton or Madison)
FEDERALIST No. 53The House of Representatives (con't) (Hamilton or Madison)
FEDERALIST No. 54The Apportionment of Members Among the States (Hamilton or Madison)
FEDERALIST No. 55The Total Number of the House of Representatives (Hamilton or Madison)
FEDERALIST No. 56The Total Number of the House of Representatives (con't) (Hamilton or Madison)
FEDERALIST No. 57The Alleged Tendency of the New Plan to Elevate the Few at the Expense of the Many Considered in Connection with Representation (Hamilton or Madison)
FEDERALIST No. 58Objection That The Number of Members Will Not Be Augmented as the Progress of Population Demands Considered
FEDERALIST No. 59Concerning the Power of Congress to Regulate the Election of Members
FEDERALIST No. 60Concerning the Power of Congress to Regulate the Election of Members (con't)
FEDERALIST No. 61Concerning the Power of Congress to Regulate the Election of Members (con't)