Introduction to Hamilton's character.
Directions: Post at least 2 responses to the podcast considering the following question. How did the events of Hamilton @13yrs. old influence the rest of his life for better or worse?
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
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27 comments:
I think the video makes it quite evident that the events of Hamilton's life, while entirely negative in nature, ultimately had a positive effect on the rest of his life. In fact it is directly stated that the events “toughened this spirit of self reliance.” Granted, this collection of calamities that befell him most likely hurt his social development, in the role of a founding father and statesmen, they positively shaped necessary skills. Further, due to his misfortune he was forced into a job as a clerk where he was required to become familiar with currency systems and basic economics. Both these skills would be useful in his later work as secretary of Treasury.
I think that the events of Hamilton's childhood actually had a positive effect on the rest of his life. It says that the events toughened him for the rest of his life. Since all of these misfortunes happened to him this led to him getting a job as a clerk. Also it made him realize that intelligence was a great aspect to have. He had to become in charge of the company and he helped to save the business. Hamilton also was sent to the American colonies to be educated there. He also learned many different aspects that would help him become a great Secretary of the Treasury.
The events that occurred in Hamilton’s life at thirteen years old, although seemingly negative, were important in shaping his future. The series of tragedies that took place at this time in his life forced him to become more independent and resulted in him finding some of his strengths. For example, Hamilton was given books from his mother’s estate after she had passed away, which helped him to discover his love of fame, an achievement created in life. As a result of his great intelligence, Hamilton became noticed by others and was given an education in the colonies. Although he prospered immensely, he was always somewhat trapped in his childhood because of how much impact it had on his entire life.
Alexander Hamilton at the age of 13 had lost his mother and his father had previously left. He was left with no protector. Since he had realized intelligence was very important he would read and read and read books. He read about ancient Greece and Rome. He learned to have a love of honor. Hamilton also felt that slavery was a sense of waste and appalling and cruel. He had written articles and published poetry. He was able to go to the American colonies and reinvent himself. Overall the events of his childhood when he was 13 years old had affected his life for better and not for worse.
(sorry if I am going to much with this it makes for a solid base for me.)
What I find interesting about Alexander Hamilton was that he was not British Like the rest of the founding fathers, instead he was Caribbean born in novus (most likely spelled wrong.). I think this impacted his future of his life as he was an outcast in the colonies, not like everyone else. since he was considered a "bastard" (He was called that in the video)he wasn't allowed to go to christian school. By what I know, weren't most schools Christian? If so then that would mean he wasn't as well educated. Thus being educated differently then most he had a harder time going to higher status in the social ladder. So how did this man become one of the great founding fathers? Well while he was young many events happened that either helped him or went against him. With him being an "outsider" he was not considered as legitimate as everyone else. This pushed him to be focused on a life-long obsession with honor. I think this helped him as this made him become determined on many aspects for the country. An impact on Alexander Hamilton at age 13 was his mothers death. This may of influenced him in a better way. Though I think because when his mom died he had no more protector, this may of strengthened him mentally to keep going on. As the video said it strengthened his self-reliance on his intelligence. Self-reliance comes from the mind so this obviously had to have a long-term effect. Thus he wanted to learn more and more from books. This
I beleive shaped him mentally to become active in politics and in the future help with the constitution.
So Stephen I agree with you on every aspect of what you wrote. Though something may be seen as negative, in my mind it all helped him become who he was as an adult.
( I will post more in a 2nd post here. I just want to see if I can build off others and the video.) (also I will explain myself more on my opinions on why I felt it his 13 year old life helped him alot.)
I believe that this video makes it clear that Alexander Hamilton life as a child was not an easy life. He had lost his mother to yellow fever and his father walked out of his life two years prior to losing his mother. He was left with nothing. His mother had left him books, Hamilton read about great Roman and Greek leaders. Although he had nothing left his intelligence as a kid made him stronger and it helped him survive on his own. Although Hamilton had nothing going right for him at the age of 13 he didn't let the downfalls bring him down it only made him stronger.
Hamilton fought his whole life to overcome his status of being born out of wedlock. It is evident through his accomplishments that he is of genius status and often self-educated. You make good points relating to the loss of his mother and to the driving forces in his life considering his natural aptitude and quest for honor.
The point about Hamilton inheritance seems like a moral from classic children’s tale. Deprived of the vast estate of his deceased mother, Hamilton builds his own fortune through the knowledge kept in the only part of his mother’s estate he was left: the books. Thus the lesson that knowledge is more precious than wealth is delivered; made all the more stark because this tale is actually true, and part of the life of a famous historical figure.
I believe that if it wasn't for all these hardships that had occurred to Hamilton he wouldn't have been able to accomplish what he had done. All the hardships that happened to him as a child made him a stronger man as he got older and it made him only want to do better to prove that what happened to him wouldn't just make him give up. If his mother hadn't passed away he wouldn't have gotten those books that inspired him and he might not have been able to achieve what he did. So in a way it was a good thing his mother passed away because it helped him achieve the success he had as a man.
I agree with all of you in that the events at age 13 influenced Hamilton’s life for the better. I think that having such a rough start, he was determined to make up for it. He wanted to make a name for himself and to be remembered for something good. You would originally conclude that so many misfortunes in a young boy’s life would shatter any hope that he had. That was not the case for Alexander Hamilton. He took everything in stride. His misfortunes in early life gave him the ambition to do extraordinary thing.
The events of Hamilton when he was 13 influenced his life in a good way. Because of the hardships he had to endure I think he was able to build himself his own life on his own using his won talents. I think it gave him a better appreciation for people of the time who didn't have opportunities because of certain circumstances.
I think that because he was discriminated against because he was illegitimate. It made him fight harder for the liberties that other people had. I also think that because he had to fight so hard he became tougher and he realized that he could build himself a good lifestyle without the help of anyone. He realized that he could become an assets and good functioning part of society. That just because he was illegitimate that didn't mean he had to live like a peasant.
At age 14 like Stephen said, Hamilton did become a clerk. I want to expand on what he said. While he was a clerk his employer got very ill which lead Hamilton to be in control of the company. I think this impacted him in a positive way as this taught him important leadership skills he could use later in his life. He continued to also write poetry, sermons and articles for a local newspaper. I think this helped him in the future while helping write the constitution.
I think that the events througout Hamilton's life were more of a positive effect for him than a negative effect. I think that all the events such as his mother dying and his father leaving the family helped him become stronger and more independent. The books that his mother left behind made him realize that he wanted to become famous like the people he had read about and helped him pave the way to becoming famous. He also was very intellegent which also helped him very much like at his job as a clerk because he knew all the different currencies.
I think that if Hamilton's childhood would have not taken the course it did that he would have not been able to accomplish what he did. I think that being an outsider and being at the bottom of the social order made Hamilton want to fight to become higher which would help him later down the road. He was also prohibited from Christian schools even though he was so intellegent. When his father left the family and his mother than died he was on his own and had no protector making him have to grow up faster than most kids his age and making him tougher. These events helped him get a job as a clerk at a trading post which helped him learn about the different currencies and helped him learn alot about trade. He also got the books from his mother as a result of her death which helped him realize his love for fame.
Ok, so we all agree that these unfortunate events of Hamilton’s childhood strengthened him. However, what if we had to come up with an opposing argument? Any takers?
Alexander Hamilton had a rough beginning to his life. It has already been stated that those trials helped form him into the incredible man that he was. That statement is 100% true. He came from a poor background. He had to fend for himself due to the death of his mother, and absence of his father. This helped him be able to problem solve, and overcome obstacles.
I think that when Hamilton faced difficulties in his life, it only made him try harder to get to where he got to in his life. One challenge that in the end benefited him, was how he wast allowed to go to a christian school. This was because he was considered a bastard. It may have a first been a hindrance to him, but he could overcome and still found a way to get educated. He also had to work as a clerk. He had to learn how to use the currency system, and understand economics. This must have been very difficult for him at first, but in the end it was beneficial as he became the Secretary of Treasury.
I agree with all that the negative events in Hamilton's life at 13 years old ultimately effected him positively. He was also blessed with a strong personality that allowed him to flourish in his problems instead of being crushed by them. His male influences, rather than being his father or uncle who both left him, turned to noble leaders in the books that he read. With the death of his mother, Hamilton was forced to become tough and self-reliant. At a young age he was capable of running a large business. This made him stand out and eventually gain the education and the new start that he desperately wanted.
I believe that Hamilton's experiences also effected him negatively by not letting forget the horrors of his past which might have impeded his social development. He could not look upon himself as someone who had risen and became more fortunate because he was always ashamed of his illegitimacy and poor background. As is states in the documentary, "he was always trapped back in the darkness of that boyhood".
All of the horrible things that happened to Alexander Hamilton at the age of thirteen had a positive influence on the rest of his life. His mom had died and he was left with no protector made him realize he had to be self-reliant. The only thing he was allowed to keep from his mother’s estate was her books; this made Alexander Hamilton realize that honor and intelligence were very important. All of these things made him a great leader, which eventually helped him become a founding father.
All of the horrible things that happened to Alexander Hamilton at the age of thirteen had a positive influence on the rest of his life. His mom had died and he was left with no protector made him realize he had to be self-reliant. The only thing he was allowed to keep from his mother’s estate was her books; this made Alexander Hamilton realize that honor and intelligence were very important. All of these things made him a great leader, which eventually helped him become a founding father.
I think that Alexander Hamilton’s hard childhood shaped his future in a positive way. Alexander Hamilton was a founding father who supported the federalist beliefs. I think that many factors of his life as a young man led to his federalist view in politics. His mother died when he was only thirteen and the only thing he was allowed to have were her books. He read the books and came to love honor from reading books about ancient Greece and Rome. Alexander Hamilton was a very intelligent man. As a federalist Hamilton believed that only the educated elite should run the country.
I believe that if Alex Hamilton had a normal childhood, he would not have been as successful as he was. Seeing as his mother died and his father left him at such a young age, he had to learn to be self sufficient. He was obviously self taught in the ways of mathematics to a very high degree as he was able to be a clerk and master currencies at the age of 14
His constant search for fame and honor gave him the characteristics of a persistent man who searched for ways to make himself known. This logically brought him to politics where helped found the United States of America. if not for the happenings of when he was a youth, he wouldn't have that inner drive for honor
All of these events that took place in Hamilton’s childhood benefitted him later in life. He learned that it is not necessary for one to be wealthy to have intelligence. I think because he was an illegitimate child, and therefore an outcast, he was motivated even more to succeed in life. He needed to try harder than others in order to get a good education because he was an outcast but, in the long-run, this was a positive thing for Hamilton. He became independent and learned skills, which he otherwise would not have learned, that would help him later in life.
The tragedies that happened in the life of young Alexander Hamilton, shaped him for the better. the tragedies toughened the way he lived, and his his view of himself. He was a nobody, but out of that he becomes a founding father of the United States.
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