Alexander Hamilton

Today in History: Alexander Hamilton Born

by Dave Benner | Jan 11, 2023 | Alexander Hamilton, History

Today in 1757, it is generally believed Alexander Hamilton was born. As John Adams put it, he was “the bastard brat of a Scottish peddler.” Born out of wedlock on the British isle of Nevis, Hamilton would become one of the most influential political forces of his...

Alexander Hamilton’s “Implied Powers” Wrecked the Constitution

by Mike Maharrey | Jun 14, 2021 | Alexander Hamilton, Constitution, Founding Principles, Necessary and Proper Clause

During the ratification debates, supporters of the Constitution insisted that the new general government would only exercise the powers explicitly enumerated in the document. But less than three years after ratification, Alexander Hamilton did a complete 180, suddenly...

Was This the Biggest Political Flip-Flop Ever?

by Mike Maharrey | Jun 8, 2021 | Alexander Hamilton, Federal Reserve, History

I don’t think anybody is surprised when politicians flip-flop. George H.W. Bush with his “no new taxes” pledge provides a great modern example. But Alexander Hamilton arguably gave us the most damaging, if not the biggest, flip-flop ever when he did a complete 180 on...

Can the Vice President Break a Tie on Appointments?

by Michael D. Ramsey | Sep 25, 2020 | Alexander Hamilton, Article I Section 3, Article II Section 2, Judiciary

In the Boston Globe, Laurence Tribe (Harvard) makes an originalist case that the Vice President cannot break ties on appointments votes. It’s an interesting issue but I am not persuaded. He begins: While the vice president has the power to cast a tiebreaking...

The Constitutionality of a National Bank: Hamilton vs. Jefferson

by Mike Maharrey | Sep 18, 2020 | 10th Amendment, Alexander Hamilton, Enumerated Powers, Thomas Jefferson

The First Bank of the United States was chartered for a period of 20 years by Congress on Feb. 25, 1791. Alexander Hamilton championed the bank, but it wasn’t without its detractors. One of the most vocal opponents of the bank was Thomas Jefferson who argued...

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde: Which Hamilton Are You Talking About?

by Mike Maharrey | Mar 5, 2020 | Alexander Hamilton

We often hear people referred to as “Hamiltonians.” But that term always makes me wonder, which Hamilton do you mean? I recently had the opportunity to speak to a class at the West Virginia University School of Law. The subject was the constitutionality of...

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