Exercise: “Alexander Hamilton: The Man Who Made Modern America"

Instructions: Navigate to the New-York Historical Society's online exhibition, Alexander Hamilton: The Man Who Made Modern America," at the URL below. Look through the various areas of the exhibit, including the narrated virtual tour of objects in the exhibition, the interactive “walks” through Hamilton's New York and New Jersey, and the Document Viewer feature. After perusing the material, answer the respective questions.

Visit URL: "Alexander Hamilton: The Man Who Made Modern America"

Question 1:  The exhibit title asserts that Hamilton was “the man who created modern America.” What exactly does this mean, do you think? Do you agree with the assertion? Explain your answer by making specific reference to the text and materials in the exhibit.

Question 2:  After taking a “virtual” tour of 1790s New York City and New Jersey, what specific people and places do you think were the most important for Hamilton's rise to prominence? How was Hamilton able to become part of New York's elite, given his modest economic and immigrant origins? Explain your answer by specific references to the exhibit materials.

Question 3:  How important was the physical and cultural context of New York City in the development of Hamilton's ideology? To put it another way: what would have been different about Hamilton had he been from Pennsylvania, or South Carolina, perhaps? In what specific ways do you think Hamilton's urban milieu shaped his political and economic outlooks?

Question 4:  From your viewing of the exhibit objects and documents, why do you think Hamilton was such a polarizing figure in the new republic? Was it his ideology, personality, or both that provoked such strong reactions by others? Explain your answer.