Hamilton: The Energetic Founder

R. B. Bernstein's book "Hamilton: The Energetic Founder" provides a thorough history of Alexander Hamilton's life, thought, work, and legacy. It explores his role in revolution, constitutionalism, economics, diplomacy, and war, as well as his relationship to honor culture and duelling. Hamilton was a key founding father, focusing on his work as a politician, constitutional thinker, and the nation's first secretary of the treasury. He led the effort to write The Federalist and pioneered efforts to interpret the Constitution broadly. He was a tragic victim of the honor culture he established, dying in a duel with Aaron Burr in 1804. Hamilton has continued to be the principal advocate of American constitutional nationalism.

Format: Unspecified
Length: 152 pages
Publication date: 29 November 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

In his book "Hamilton: The Energetic Founder," R. B. Bernstein offers a comprehensive account that establishes Alexander Hamilton's position as one of the pivotal founding fathers of the United States. While "Hamilton: The Energetic Founder" serves as a concise introduction to the life, ideas, work, and enduring legacy of Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804), it deviates from the traditional biographical format. The public's fascination with Hamilton, his life, and his contributions has surged, particularly among individuals captivated by the popular-culture portrayals in the Broadway musical "Hamilton: An American Musical." This book provides aummary of Hamilton's life and delves into his significant roles in revolution, constitutionalism, economics, diplomacy, and warfare, as well as his intricate relationship with honor culture and duelling. The epilogue examines Hamilton's legacies.

The book views Hamilton as a pivotal founding father, primarily emphasizing his contributions as a politician, a constitutional scholar, and the nation's inaugural secretary of the treasury. In this capacity, Hamilton arguably emerged as the preeminent American domestic policy-maker and nationalist. He spearheaded the writing of the seminal defense and exposition of the Constitution, known as "The Federalist," and later, as treasury secretary, he pioneered efforts to interpret the Constitution broadly, as a generous grant of national power to the government of the United States. As part of this endeavor, he also pioneered expositions of the Constitution as a source of executive and judicial power.

In addition to his influential roles in politics, Hamilton was a prominent figure in the American world of honor culture. As such, he played a central role in political combat, defending both personal and political honor. Tragically, Hamilton became a victim of the honor culture he instrumentalized in national politics, succumbing to a mortal wound inflicted during his 1804 duel with Aaron Burr, his longstanding adversary. His untimely demise marked a poignant end to a remarkable life and a testament to the complex interplay between politics, honor, and the enduring legacy of one of the United States' most influential founding fathers.

Weight: 284g
Dimension: 148 x 218 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780190081980