The Jewish World of Alexander Hamilton

Description

The untold story of the founding father's likely Jewish birth and upbringing-and its revolutionary consequences for understanding him and the nation he fought to create In The Jewish World of Alexander Hamilton, Andrew Porwancher debunks a string of myths about the origins of this founding father to arrive at a startling conclusion: Hamilton, in all likelihood, was born and raised Jewish. For more than two centuries, his youth in the Caribbean has remained shrouded in mystery. Hamilton himself wanted it that way, and most biographers have simply assumed he had a Christian boyhood. With a detective's persistence and a historian's rigor, Porwancher upends that assumption and revolutionizes our understanding of an American icon. This radical reassessment of Hamilton's religious upbringing gives us a fresh perspective on both his adult years and the country he helped forge. Although he didn't identify as a Jew in America, Hamilton cultivated a relationship with the Jewish community that made him unique among the founders. As a lawyer, he advocated for Jewish citizens in court. As a financial visionary, he invigorated sectors of the economy that gave Jews their greatest opportunities. As an alumnus of Columbia, he made his alma mater more welcoming to Jewish people. And his efforts are all the more striking given the pernicious antisemitism of the era. In a new nation torn between democratic promises and discriminatory practices, Hamilton fought for a republic in which Jew and Gentile would stand as equals. By setting Hamilton in the context of his Jewish world for the first time, this fascinating book challenges us to rethink the life and legend of America's most enigmatic founder.

Andrew Porwancher is the Wick Cary Professor at the University of Oklahoma. His books include The Devil Himself: A Tale of Honor, Insanity, and the Birth of Modern America.

"Winner of the Silver Medal in Biography, Independent Publisher Book Awards" "Winner of the Book-of-the-Year Award, Journal of the American Revolution" "Finalist in History, ForeWord Reviews' INDIES Book of the Year Awards" "Readers will find an engaging book that provides a unique look at Hamilton's life as well as the history of Jews in the Revolution and early national period. . . . [An] innovative study that illuminates previously obscured details of Alexander Hamilton's childhood." * Journal of the American Revolution * "Ingenious. . . . Por wanch er impres sive ly draws on pri ma ry sources in half a dozen lan guages."---Stephen Whit field, Jewish Book Council "Remarkable, informative, and thorough. "---Mike Fink, Providence Journal "Radical. . . . Porwancher's prose is extraordinarily bright."---Adam Jortner, Reviews in American History "Innovative. . . . An invaluable contribution."---Nan Goodman, American Nineteenth Century History