Alexander Hamilton is the Man

Alexander Hamilton was never President. Nor was he a famous general who won glorious battles. His contributions to the United States, however, were so fundamentally crucial to the development of the young republic that his influence can still be felt today. So why should anyone care about Hamilton nowadays? Because he is the freaking man. And there are so many reasons why:

1) Hamilton was born in the Caribbean.

2) He singe-handedly put Columbia University (then King's College) on the map.

3) Even though he was in favor of the Revolution, he was man enough to talk down an angry anti-British mob in 1775 in New York City.

4) After training himself in military tactics, Hamilton recruited the New York Provincial Company of Artillery in 1776, leading them as a captain in the army. Shortly thereafter, he became an aide to George Washington, as part of his staff. All at the tender age of 20 (or 22).

5) He founded the Bank of New York in 1784, which is now the oldest banking institution in America.

6) A member of the Constitutional Convention, Hamilton's ideas would be seen in the final draft of the Constitution of the United States; ideas such as separation of powers into a judicial, legislative, and executive branch. The foundation of the Federal Government as a strong, centralized organization was a vast improvement over the weaker Articles of Confederation, and Hamilton played an immeasurably important role in its creation, which would give "states' rights" a swift kick in the bum for years to come.

7) Hamilton was a major contributor to the Federalist Papers, a defense of the Constitution of the United States, whose interpretation would indelibly influence later generations. Estimated to have written over 50 of the 85 articles, he wrote (by hand) over 40,000 words and several essays a week for over a year, in addition to his other many duties.

8) He was one of the founders of the Federalist party, the 18th century American version of Big Government run by elitists who know more than you do.

9) He helped found the United State Mint, the Bank of the United States, and the United States Coast Guard.
10) He was the first Secretary of the Treasury, serving under demi-god President George Washington.

11) Hamilton chose to accept an offer to duel rather than apologize for a comment made towards Aaron Burr, resulting Hamilton's death in 1804. He even tried to be the bigger man on the occasion, shooting into the air rather than at his opponent.

Essentially, Alexander Hamilton was a self-educated, arrogant, snobbish, elitist, holier-than-thou wanna-be aristocrat who didn't care what anyone else thought because he was smarter and knew more than anyone else. Without his incessant, aggravatingly in-your-face habit of publishing lengthy rebuttals and criticisms in the press, going to great, unnecessary lengths to show not just his opponent, but everyone who didn't live under a rock that what he thought was the only correct answer and anyone who disagreed was incompetent, ignorant, or both, American society and politics wouldn't exist as we know it today.

Every Supreme Court decision saying the federal government can do what it pleases (Roe vs. Wade, Brown vs Schoolboard, etc) can thank Alexander Hamilton for setting the precedent back when an overbearing authority (the British monarchy) had just been kicked curbside.

Alexander Hamilton was wearing aviators and leather jackets whilst smoking a cigarette on his motorcycle while other people were still wearing fedoras and talking about the deleterious effect the Panic of 1873 had on the gold standard.

Hamilton was the original trend-setter, and we are all better off for it.