TheAmericathatAlexanderHamiltonknewwaslargelyagriculturalandbuiltonslavelabor.Heenvisionedsomethingelse:amulti-racial,urbanized,capitalisticAmericawithastrongcentralgovernment.HebelievedthatsuchanAmericawouldbealandofopportunityforthepoorandthenewcomers.ButHamilton'svisionputhimatoddswithhisarchrivalswhoenvisionedapastoralAmericaofsmalltowns,wheregovernmentswerelocal,stateswouldcontroltheirowndestiny,andthefederalgovernmentwouldremainsmallandweak.ThedisputesthataroseduringAmerica'sfirstdecadescontinuedthroughAmericanhistorytoourpresentday.Overtime,becauseofthesystemsHamiltonsetupandtheideasheleft,hisvisionwonout.HereisthestorythatepitomizestheAmericandream—apoorimmigrantwhomadegoodinAmerica.Intheend,Hamiltonrosefrompovertythroughhisintelligenceandability,anddidmoretoshapeourcountrythananyofhiscontemporaries.Relatedsubjectsandconceptsdiscussedinthebookinclude:LawandLegalConceptsDueprocessBillofRightsFreedomofSpeechandthePressOriginalism/nonoriginalism(theoriesofConstitutionalinterpretation)GovernmentChecksandBalancesDemocracyElectoralCollegeRepublicFinancialConceptsCapitalismCreditInflationInterestMercantilismSecurities:StocksandBondsTariffsTaxesMiscellaneousDemagoguesDuelingPastoralismAbouttheSeriesTheMakingofAmericaseriestracestheconstitutionalhistoryoftheUnitedStatesthroughoverlappingbiographiesofAmericanmenandwomen.Thedebatesthatragedwhenournationwasfoundedhavebeenarguedeversince:HowshouldtheConstitutionbeinterpreted?Whatisthemeaning,andwherearethelimitsofpersonalliberty?Whatistheproperroleofthefederalgovernment?Whoshouldbeincludedin"wethepeople"?EachbiographyintheseriestellsthestoryofanAmericanleaderwhohelpedshapetheUnitedStatesoftoday.