A first book in American history with European beginnings . From an old print. Washington Taking the Oath of Office, as the First President, at Federal Hall on Wall Street, now the Sub-Treasury Building. be decided before the new government could be placed ona sound financial basis, Hamilton had a stupendous taskbefore him. He bent all his great ability to the straighten-ing out of Americas tangled financial condition. Where 264 ALEXANDER HAMILTON others would have ended with dismal failure, Hamiltonsucceeded. As the result of his work he brought out a series of finan-cial measures which quick
A first book in American history with European beginnings . From an old print. Washington Taking the Oath of Office, as the First President, at Federal Hall on Wall Street, now the Sub-Treasury Building. be decided before the new government could be placed ona sound financial basis, Hamilton had a stupendous taskbefore him. He bent all his great ability to the straighten-ing out of Americas tangled financial condition. Where 264 ALEXANDER HAMILTON others would have ended with dismal failure, Hamiltonsucceeded. As the result of his work he brought out a series of finan-cial measures which quickly and firmly established thecredit of the country. He advocated the payment in fullwith interest of the enormous National debt and the debtsof the states. He established methods of taxation; heprovided for the establishment of a National Bank and aMint. All of these measures and many more besides, un-. First Money Coined by Congress. der his leadership, were adopted by Congress, though notwithout bitter controversies. After Hamilton had rendered this valuable service to thecountry he retired from public office, and again took up thepractice of law which he had begun years before. This wasin 1795. THE DUEL AND HAMILTONS DEATH Hamilton was worshiped by his friends and hated byhis enemies. He never ceased to take an active interestin the politics of the time; and it was largely through hisefforts that Thomas Jefferson, and not Aaron Burr, was 265 A FIRST BOOK IN AMERICAN HISTORY elected President in 1800. Then four years later, Hamil-ton prevented Burr from being elected governor of NewYork. Whereupon Burr became Hamiltons bitter enemy,and determined to kill him. So, claiming that Hamiltonhad defamed him, he picked a quarrel with the New Yorklawyer and challenged him to a duel. According to the code of honor of those days, Hamiltoncould not well refuse to accept the challenge, although
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