Hamilton's Revolution: War, Sex and Politics

Few remembered or were taught that Hamilton made the greatest contribution to the Federalist Papers, a collection of 85 articles and essays written by Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay designed to promote the ratification of the US Constitution. Hamilton wrote 51 articles to Madison's 29 and Jay's five.

And few Americans were familiar with Hamilton's creation of a national bank.

I'll give him this: His financial system is a work of genius. I couldn't undo it if I tried. And I tried. --Thomas Jefferson in Hamilton

Among the various issues America still faces 250 years later are women's rights, poignantly touched on by Angelica Schuyler, Hamilton's sister-in-law:

Angelica Schuyler sings:

I've been reading Common Sense by Thomas Paine
So men say that I'm intense or I'm insane
You want a revolution? I want a revelation
So listen to my declaration:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident
That all men are created equal"
And when I meet Thomas Jefferson (unh!)
I'mma compel him to include women in the sequel

One of the eternal themes of the arts which rears its prominent head in this musical is the downfall of great men, which often starts with the turn of a skirt. Why do they never seem to learn?

Hamilton's devoted wife Eliza sang heartbreakingly of his infidelities. It seemed that she pulled on the heartstrings of every member of the audience as she sang of her additional horror when the tawdry secrets were made public.

You forfeit all rights to my heart
You forfeit the place in our bed
You'll sleep in your office instead
With only the memories
of when you were mine.

Meanwhile, Aaron Burr is dangerously dallying with a wife of a British officer. Historically, many of the prominent men in this story are well known for their unauthorized amorous adventures.

The musical has sparked strong debate from various factions, but Miranda's political messages are wrapped up in such brilliant artistic packaging that people with opposing points of view are lured into entertaining the possibility of a different perspective.

As an example, Speaker of the Utah House Greg Hughes is reported to have called Democratic Senator Jim Dabakis during the intermission saying, "I'm watching this musical, and I am sobbing like a child in here," then suggesting, "this thing is the greatest presentation of our American history we've ever seen." Nearly all major news publications, regardless of their place on the ideological spectrum, have praised Hamilton as a masterwork, according to shapeofsociety.com.

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