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Alexander Hamilton Facts & Worksheets

Alexander Hamilton was a lawyer, military man, journalist and statesman, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States who served as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention.

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Alexander Hamilton, one of America’s most prominent Founding Fathers, established his reputation during the Revolutionary War. He was a passionate supporter of a powerful federal government and was instrumental in ratifying the U.S. Constitution. As the U.S.’s first secretary, Despite vehement resistance from his bitter opponent Thomas Jefferson, Hamilton established the nation’s financial infrastructure through the Treasury. The two men’s disagreements would influence the creation of the country’s first political parties.

See the fact file below for more information on Alexander Hamilton or alternatively, you can download our 23-page Alexander Hamilton worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

Early and Personal Life

  • Either in 1755 or 1757, Hamilton was born on the Caribbean island of Nevis. His mother, Rachel Faucette Lavien, and his father, Scottish businessman James Hamilton, were not wed. 
  • When Hamilton was born, Rachel was still wed to a different man, but they had separated after he squandered a large portion of their family’s money and put her in jail for adultery.
  • Hamilton’s father left the family in 1766, and his mother died two years later. Hamilton rose to popularity after releasing an incisive letter explaining a hurricane that ravaged the island in 1772. He was a clerk in a trading enterprise in St. Croix at 11.
  • He was sent to America to study with the help of natives, and he arrived in late 1772, just as the colonies were preparing for war with Great Britain.
  • Hamilton became interested in the colonial cause while studying at King’s College in New York, publishing pamphlets such as “A Full Vindication of the Measures of Congress,” in which he backed the First Continental Congress’ plan to embargo commerce with Britain.
  • When the Revolutionary War broke out, he was commissioned to captain an artillery company in the Continental Army and fought bravely in battles such as Trenton and Princeton. By 1777, he had piqued the interest of the army’s commander-in-chief, General George Washington, who appointed him to his staff.
  • In July, Hamilton was appointed command of a Lafayette’s Division unit in Moses Hazen’s Brigade. At Yorktown, he oversaw a successful assault contributing to the last American victory. After a few more years in the service, he was promoted to Colonel on September 30, 1783. He had left the service at the end of the year.

Political Influence

  • In July 1782, Hamilton was chosen to represent the state of New York in the Congress of the Confederation. He announced his departure from Congress in 1783 and started a law practice. In 1784, he founded the Bank of New York.
  • He co-wrote the Federalist Papers, which pushed for a far more potent central government than the one created by the Articles of Confederation, together with John Jay and James Madison. Additionally, he played a key role in the creation and leadership of the Federalist political party.
  • He kept having an influence on American politics. The Constitution, which was primarily the product of Hamilton, replaced the Articles in 1787. He was George Washington’s first Secretary of the Treasury from 1789 until 1795, serving in that role and effectively founding our nation’s monetary system

Hamilton and Jefferson

  • President George Washington chose Thomas Jefferson to serve as secretary of state. Jefferson and Hamilton used to work together in peace until the latter’s economic policies in 1791 and 1792, but they became rivals within the same cabinet since both Founding Fathers took opposite positions, making them enemies. Compared to Jefferson, who was more indirect and tended to operate behind the scenes, Hamilton was seen as being more forceful, combative, and ambitious.
  • Madison and Thomas Jefferson, who was then the secretary of state, both fiercely opposed Hamilton’s financial policies because they believed they gave the federal government too much authority.
  • The conflict between Hamilton, who supported neutrality, and Jefferson, who wanted the United States to support France, had already begun to shape the country’s first political parties, the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans, by the time war broke out between Great Britain and France in 1793.
  • Hamilton departed the Treasury in 1795 to resume his law practice in New York. When Washington resigned after two terms, Hamilton wrote most of his farewell message, warning of the perils of excessive political polarization and foreign interference.

Duel, Death & Legacy

  • Aaron Burr, a politician and attorney, was one of the many persons who clashed with Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton didn’t trust Burr because he believed that he frequently altered his political stances in order to enhance his career.
  • The House of Representatives had to decide between Burr and Thomas Jefferson after they tied for the presidency in 1800. Hamilton spoke out against Burr, resulting in Jefferson’s victory; Burr became his vice president. Hamilton once more came out against Burr when he stood for governor of New York four years later, and Burr lost.
  • The last straw came in the form of Hamilton’s letters that were published in the Albany Register and that detailed his opposition to Burr, as well as allegations that even more vehement critiques of Burr’s character were purportedly made during a dinner party. Burr ultimately demanded a fight with Hamilton. On July 11, 1804, Hamilton was gravely wounded and died the next afternoon in terrible suffering at the age of 49.
  • Hamilton’s ashes are interred at the churchyard of Trinity Church in New York City, which also serves as the last resting place for numerous other important personalities in American history, including Horatio Gates and John Peter Zenger. Since the release of the Broadway smash Hamilton, Hamilton’s grave has become the most popular tourist site in the cemetery.
  • Despite the fact that Hamilton lived just 49 years, he made several significant contributions to the country. The financial system he established, the Constitution he helped design and persuade the delegates to adopt, and the governance structure he firmly believed in are all still in use today.
  • Although Hamilton served as George Washington’s closest advisor and assistant and influenced the ideas of Washington’s successor, John Adams, he never acted as president of the United States. Young Hamilton served as a volunteer and eventually rose to General George Washington’s right-hand man position. At the Battle of Yorktown, Hamilton personally led an assault and charged on a British redoubt.
  • He entered the colonies with the power of his pen. During the Revolutionary War, he was Washington’s right-hand man and a self-taught lawyer. Both Alexander Hamilton and his son lost their lives in a duel. He was served as the inspiration for the first political party in America.
  • Alexander Hamilton was born long before IQ testing was developed, yet estimates of his IQ range from 150 to 160 based on his works and vocabulary.
  • He was a key founding father alongside James Madison, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams. Although there were more other people who helped in the establishment of the United States, most people regard these seven to be the Founding Fathers.

Alexander Hamilton Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Alexander Hamilton across 23 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Alexander Hamilton worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Alexander Hamilton, who was a lawyer, military man, journalist and statesman, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States who served as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and became the nation’s first Secretary of the Treasury.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Alexander Hamilton Facts
  • Mr. Independent
  • Finding the Founding Fathers
  • 10-dollar Founding Father
  • Con Con: Constitutional Convention
  • Hamilton Hunt
  • The Publius
  • Hamilton v. Jefferson Match
  • Hamiltonian Economy
  • Political Storyboard
  • Hamilton: The Election of 1800

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Alexander Hamilton known for?

Alexander Hamilton, one of America’s most prominent Founding Fathers, established his reputation during the Revolutionary War. He was a passionate supporter of a powerful federal government and was instrumental in ratifying the U.S. Constitution. As the U.S.’s first secretary, Despite vehement resistance from his bitter opponent Thomas Jefferson, Hamilton established the nation’s financial infrastructure through the Treasury.

Was Alexander Hamilton an American president?

Although Hamilton served as George Washington’s closest advisor and assistant and influenced the ideas of Washington’s successor, John Adams, he never acted as president of the United States.

What are five facts about Alexander Hamilton?

He entered the colonies with the power of his pen. During the Revolutionary War, he was Washington’s right-hand man and a self-taught lawyer. Both Alexander Hamilton and his son lost their lives in a duel. He was served as the inspiration for the first political party in America.

Was Alexander Hamilton really George Washington’s right-hand man?

Young Hamilton served as a volunteer and eventually rose to General George Washington’s right-hand man position. At the Battle of Yorktown, Hamilton personally led an assault and charged on a British redoubt.

Who are our 4 Founding Fathers?

He was a key founding father alongside James Madison, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams. Although there were more other people who helped in the establishment of the United States, most people regard these seven to be the Founding Fathers.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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