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时间:2016-02-03 15:45:23

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Alexander Hamilton: Father of American Banking1 亚历山大•汉密尔顿:美国银行之父

Alexander Hamilton was not a U.S. president, but he was one of the most important early leaders of the U.S.  

He fought in the Revolutionary War, wrote powerful arguments to persuade the states to accept the Constitution, and helped create the country’s national banking and economic system.

In 1929, the Treasury2 Department even put Alexander Hamilton’s face on the $10 bill. And in 2015, the musical “Hamilton” became one of the biggest shows on Broadway.

But the story of Hamilton’s early life did not make this legacy3 likely. 

A difficult beginning

Hamilton was born in 1755 to poor, unmarried parents in the West Indies. He was a bright child and read every book given to him -- in English, Latin and Greek.

Hamilton also learned a great deal about business and economics. He talked about becoming a political leader in the North American colonies.

When Hamilton was 11 years old, his mother died. Hamilton got a job as an assistant bookkeeper. He learned how to keep financial records.

Even though his situation was difficult, others recognized that Hamilton was smart and talented. Hamilton’s boss sent him to New York. He became a student at King’s College, later called Columbia University.

Right hand man

The American Revolution gave Hamilton the chance to show his abilities. Hamilton supported the colonies’ war of independence against Britain. He became an aide to the colonies’ lead general, George Washington.

Even though Hamilton was young – in his early 20s – Washington trusted him as an excellent writer and thinker. Hamilton wrote the general’s letters. He had to use all his political and communication skills to get money and supplies for the Revolutionary Army.

Love and marriage … and money

During the war, Hamilton married Elizabeth Schuyler. She was a member of one of the nation’s wealthiest families.

Over time, Eliza and Alexander Hamilton made homes in New York and Philadelphia and raised eight children.

Bank of the United States

After the Revolutionary War, Hamilton became a lawyer in New York. He used the power of his pen again – this time, to defend the U.S. Constitution.

Hamilton was one of the authors of “The Federalist Papers.” The series of newspaper articles urged the newly independent states to adopt the Constitution and create a strong central government.

After the states agreed to ratify4 the Constitution, George Washington became the country’s first president. He asked Hamilton to be the first Secretary of the Treasury.

The role of Secretary of the Treasury was critical in the early days of the new nation. America’s most urgent problem was figuring out ways to pay its debts. The country had borrowed or promised a lot of money during the Revolutionary War.

Hamilton proposed a national bank. Congress approved the idea in 1791. The bank had $10 million in capital. It could lend the government money and pay off state debts. Hamilton’s system also created a federal system to collect taxes.

But not everyone accepted Hamilton’s views. Many of President Washington’s advisors5 – called his cabinet – opposed Hamilton.

Opponents expressed many objections to Hamilton’s Bank of the United States. Generally, members of Congress from the northern states supported the idea, while those from southern states opposed it.

Another political leader, Thomas Jefferson, said the Bank exceeded the powers of the Constitution.

Hamilton defended the Bank. He argued for a broad interpretation6 of the Constitution. He thought it permitted the federal government to do what it needed to do to strengthen the country’s economic system.

Hamilton largely won his political arguments. He became the leader of nation’s first political party, called the Federalist Party.

The Federalists, located mainly in the commercial Northeast, supported a strong national government. They laid the foundation of a national economy, created a national judicial7 system and set up principles of foreign policy.  

Trouble again

But while Hamilton’s public life was succeeding, his private life was running into trouble.

Hamilton confessed to having an affair – to not being faithful to his wife. His oldest son fought a duel8 to defend Alexander Hamilton’s honor and was killed. 

Hamilton eventually resigned from George Washington’s administration. And he publicly disagreed with other politicians, including the new president, John Adams, and a man named Aaron Burr.

Many who disagreed with Hamilton united in an opposition9 party called the Republicans, or sometimes the Democrat-Republicans. Thomas Jefferson was their leader.

Even though Hamilton and Jefferson disagreed about most things, in the presidential election of 1800 Hamilton supported Thomas Jefferson over the other leading candidate, Aaron Burr. Hamilton trusted Jefferson not to abuse the power of the presidency10.

But Aaron Burr was angry that Hamilton had cost him the election. Later, when Burr ran for governor of New York, Hamilton opposed him again. Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel.

Duel to the death

At dawn on July 11, 1804, Hamilton and Burr fought a duel on the New Jersey11 side of the Hudson River, near Manhattan. They fired pistols from ten paces. Hamilton fell to the ground. He was carried to his Manhattan home and died the next day.

Just three years earlier, Hamilton’s son had been shot on the same spot.

Today, Americans remember Alexander Hamilton as the architect of America’s banking and economic system. He was the first secretary of the treasury and created America’s central bank.

Hamilton’s system gave the new nation the ability to issue paper money, lend the government money and promote business and industry by extending credit.

Even though many disagreed with the power Hamilton gave the central government, he helped place the United States on an equal financial footing with the nations of Europe.

Words in This Story

argument – n. a statement or series of statements for or against something

legacy – n. something that happened in the past or that comes from someone in the past

bookkeeper – n. a person whose job is to keep the financial records for a business

financial – adj. relating to money

wealthiest – adj. having a lot of money and possessions

ratify – v.  to make (a treaty, agreement, etc.) official by signing it or voting for it

treasury – n. the place where the money of a government, club, etc., is kept

urgent – adj. very important and needing immediate12 attention

federal – adj.  of or relating to a form of government in which power is shared between a central government and individual states, provinces, etc.

foundation – n. something (such as an idea, a principle, or a fact) that provides support for something

judicial – adj.  of or relating to courts of law or judges

confess – v. to admit that you did something wrong or illegal

duel – n.  a fight between two people that includes the use of weapons (such as guns or swords) and that usually happens while other people watch

resign – v.  an act of giving up a job or position in a formal or official way

pace – n.  a single step or the length of a single step — usually plural13

architect – n. a person who designs and guides a plan, project, etc.

footing – n. used to describe the kind of relationship that exists between people, countries, etc.


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1 banking aySz20     
n.银行业,银行学,金融业
参考例句:
  • John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
  • He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。
2 treasury 7GeyP     
n.宝库;国库,金库;文库
参考例句:
  • The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
  • This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。
3 legacy 59YzD     
n.遗产,遗赠;先人(或过去)留下的东西
参考例句:
  • They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
  • He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。
4 ratify uATzc     
v.批准,认可,追认
参考例句:
  • The heads of two governments met to ratify the peace treaty.两国政府首脑会晤批准和平条约。
  • The agreement have to be ratify by the board.该协议必须由董事会批准。
5 advisors 9c02a9c1778f1533c47ade215559070d     
n.顾问,劝告者( advisor的名词复数 );(指导大学新生学科问题等的)指导教授
参考例句:
  • The governors felt that they were being strung along by their advisors. 地方长官感到他们一直在受顾问们的愚弄。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • We will consult together with advisors about her education. 我们将一起和专家商议她的教育事宜。 来自互联网
6 interpretation P5jxQ     
n.解释,说明,描述;艺术处理
参考例句:
  • His statement admits of one interpretation only.他的话只有一种解释。
  • Analysis and interpretation is a very personal thing.分析与说明是个很主观的事情。
7 judicial c3fxD     
adj.司法的,法庭的,审判的,明断的,公正的
参考例句:
  • He is a man with a judicial mind.他是个公正的人。
  • Tom takes judicial proceedings against his father.汤姆对他的父亲正式提出诉讼。
8 duel 2rmxa     
n./v.决斗;(双方的)斗争
参考例句:
  • The two teams are locked in a duel for first place.两个队为争夺第一名打得难解难分。
  • Duroy was forced to challenge his disparager to duel.杜洛瓦不得不向诋毁他的人提出决斗。
9 opposition eIUxU     
n.反对,敌对
参考例句:
  • The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
  • The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。
10 presidency J1HzD     
n.总统(校长,总经理)的职位(任期)
参考例句:
  • Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
  • Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。
11 jersey Lp5zzo     
n.运动衫
参考例句:
  • He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
  • They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致,都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。
12 immediate aapxh     
adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的
参考例句:
  • His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
  • We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。
13 plural c2WzP     
n.复数;复数形式;adj.复数的
参考例句:
  • Most plural nouns in English end in's '.英语的复数名词多以s结尾。
  • Here you should use plural pronoun.这里你应该用复数代词。

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