Everything Hamilton Gets Wrong About Real Life History

Everything Hamilton Gets Wrong About Real Life History

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical Hamilton (intentionally) gets a lot wrong when telling the story of the nation’s “Ten Dollar Founding Father.”

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The hit musical Hamilton has been acclaimed for its innovative style and ability to make even the most complicated moments in early American history accessible to its audience, often skirting around reality to keep the story moving. Due to the nuanced inner-workings and dealings of the Founding Fathers and those close to them, Lin-Manuel Miranda and the rest of the show’s creative team had the unenviable task of paring down the events into one digestible package and compelling story.

As a result, certain figures in Hamilton’s life have their role greatly expanded and others reduced in the attempt to keep the show’s runtime manageable and its protagonist centered during the proceedings. While criticism has been made towards Hamilton’s lionization of its titular character, it is interesting to look closely at the show creators’ departures from history and consider their motivations for doing so. As with all forms of adaptation, one begins to see an attempt at streamlining the story and the drawing out of particular themes at the expense of historical accuracy.

Hamilton’s changes to real life history range from chronology of events, including when and how certain characters meet, to obfuscating truths or leaving them out altogether. Here are the biggest things Miranda & Co. (intentionally) get wrong when telling the story of the nation’s “Ten Dollar Founding Father.”

Meeting Burr, Laurens, Mulligan, & Lafayette

In the musical’s second number, “Aaron Burr, Sir” viewers meet a young Alexander Hamilton in 1776, searching for his place in a rapidly changing America. Intersecting neatly with some of the most influential players in his eventful life, the musical takes great liberties in its attempt to streamline so many character introductions. Hamilton met Aaron Burr, the song’s titular character and his eventual killer is lost to history, although it is within the realm of possibility that they shared social and academic circles before the war. And, no, Hamilton never punched the bursar – although, that does make for some clever wordplay.

John Laurens met Hamilton in 1777, after the war had started. Likewise, since Marquis de Lafayette did not leave France for America until 1777, he also could not have attended such a meeting of the minds. It is notable that since New York City swiftly fell to British control after the start of the war and Hamilton did not come back to Manhattan until after Independence had been won, neither Laurens nor Lafayette could have conceivably met him there. It is likely that Mulligan, on the other hand, met Hamilton in New York, but in 1773 after being introduced to him by his brother Hugh. Mulligan took Hamilton under his wing, helping him enroll in grammar school, providing him housing, and helping to stoke the flames of his revolutionary spirit.

The Schuyler Family

In the show’s Destiny’s Child-inspired number, “The Schuyler Sisters,” the audience is introduced to Angelica, Eliza, and Peggy Schuyler making one of their frequent trips to the city in order to “watch all the guys at work.” The sisters (and Angelica, in particular) are presented as feminist figures voicing dissatisfaction over the unequal treatment of women. However, while all of Phillip Schuyler’s daughters were well-educated and extremely articulate, there is no evidence that such progressive opinions were voiced, especially when considering how rare it was for women at the time to be welcomed into discussions of politics.

Philip Schuyler, war general and future U.S. Senator is mentioned as being one of the most influential (and wealthy) figures who made their way into Hamilton’s orbit. However, since his daughters’ frequent trips to the city as alluded to in “The Schuyler Sisters” would have been unlikely, seeing as they lived in Albany. Also, despite Angelica’s assertion that her “father has no sons” in the number “Satisfied,” Phillip and his wife Catherine actually had three: John, Jeremiah, and Rensselaer.

The Angelica-Alexander-Eliza Love Triangle

There has been much ink spilled over the alleged romance between Alexander and his sister-in-law Angelica. Many historians have noted mutual flirtatious banter and unearthed letters, such as one from Angelica to her sister Eliza jokingly stating, “If you were as generous as the old Romans, you would lend him to me for a little while.” In fact, the real Angelica had been already married to John Baker Church for a handful of years by the time Alexander and Eliza tied the knot. Known for her intelligence and independence, the eldest Schuyler sister eloped with the English born businessman (who interestingly, had his own duel with Aaron Burr in 1799 – neither man was injured) against the wishes of her father. Notably, Angelica also kept up flirtatious correspondence with one of the Hamilton’s primary antagonists in the show: Thomas Jefferson.

The Washington-Hamilton Relationship

As presented in the show Hamilton, George Washington is among the most formative relationships in Alexander’s life. However, there are a few differences. While the meeting in the musical is presumably meant to take place in 1776 just outside of New York City, it is more likely that Hamilton became an aide to Washington in 1777, the following year, in Morristown New Jersey. Also, while Hamilton’s “tactical brilliance” is celebrated by Lafayette in the song “Guns and Ships,” the truth is that Hamilton’s contributions to the battlefield and the tide of the war are largely exaggerated for the musical. In fact, although the show later shows a Washington desperate for Hamilton’s return to the war, the truth is that Hamilton frequently pestered Washington for a leadership position over a body of soldiers, making ultimatums until he finally got his way in 1781.

The Laurens-Lee Duel

Angered by Charles Lee’s negative comments hurled toward Washington, the musical depicts a duel – the first of several which pop in in Hamilton’s life – featuring Aaron Burr as Lee’s second. This is impossible, as Burr was hundreds of miles away in West Point, NY recovering from poor health. Instead, Lee’s second for the duel was Major Evan Edwards, a Philadelphia-born military man, who reportedly given land in Virginia by Lee after his retirement. The musical presents America’s first Commander-in-Chief as a man very much above politics and infighting. The real Washington, who was actually quite sensitive to the mutterings of the men ranked below him as it pertained to his character, was absent from the duel and seemingly not terribly upset by it. Days later, he and his wife Martha hosted John Laurens for Christmas Dinner.

Hamilton’s Stance on Slavery

While the musical paints a picture of an abolitionist Hamilton, calling out political rivals, namely Jefferson and Madison, for their ownership of slaves. However, the truth is far more complicated and nuanced. While it is true that Hamilton is among the Founding Fathers most opposed to slavery (he was, for example, a proponent of John Laurens’ 1799 plan to enlist slaves into the Continental Army), he often sacrificed those beliefs in the name of political expediency.

His marriage to Elizabeth Schuyler is particularly telling, seeing as she belonged to a very wealthy slave-owning family, who had 27 enslaved people in their service. Records also show that Hamilton was directly involved in the purchase of slaves on behalf of his father-in-law and, in 1784, assisted Angelica in her search for a slave previously in her service. Hamilton was also in favor of the 3/5 Compromise, an agreement made between the nation’s Founding Fathers in order to ratify the U.S. Constitution. The compromise troublingly stated that slaves were counted as three-fifths of a person, thus bolstering the power of the uneasy southern states.

Hamilton’s Characterization of Thomas Jefferson

Played by Daveed Diggs with an electricity and the spirit of one having the time of his life, Thomas Jefferson is presented in Hamilton as a sharp-tongued, flamboyant, and confrontational figure, prone to political infighting. One could argue that in terms of Hamilton’s antagonists in the show, Jefferson could be ranked as one of his greatest rivals, second only to Aaron Burr. However, the show creators take great liberties with Jefferson’s characterization.

By most accounts, Jefferson was actually a fairly quiet, thoughtful Founding Father, who confronted political obstacles with sensitivity and careful thought, rather than head-on and aggressively. In addition, there were several instances in which Hamilton and Jefferson agreed, especially during the first years of their appointment to Secretary of Treasury and Secretary of State positions, respectively. Jefferson even advocated Hamilton’s nomination for the American Philosophical Society, a prestigious organization made up of the most prolific scholars of the day. Despite this, the only glances we see of Jefferson are adversarial, surely in order to create additional dramatic tension for the hero of the story. As Diggs says in a piece published for Time, where he discusses Jefferson’s legacy, “History is about who tells it, and I feel like I’ve been given this opportunity to like, re-imagine and retell the story.”

Maria Reynolds and The Reynolds Pamphlet

Shortly into Hamilton’s second act, viewers meet Maria Reynolds, a woman who seduces Hamilton into an affair which leads to the upending of his career. While the audience only sees Maria for a relatively short amount of stage-time, the picture painted is of a woman who has developed some feelings for the Founding Father – she is even included in the “We loved him” line in the opening number, also shared by Eliza and Angelica. The perspective and motivations for the affair are sadly lost to history. Some historians believe that she aided her husband, James Reynolds, in a scheme which helped him to profit from Hamilton, seducing him anew in letters and keeping the affair (and the blackmail money) alive. Whether or not she was an active participant or a manipulated victim is uncertain. Also, while the affair takes place in New York City during the summer of 1791, Maria first visited Hamilton while they were both residing in Philadelphia.

As in the musical, The Reynolds Pamphlet, a document produced by Hamilton which detailed his affair with Maria, was published in August of 1797. The number “We Know” provides a scene in which Hamilton confesses his infidelity to Burr, Jefferson, and Madison. In reality, it was Virginia Congressman Abraham Venable, Speaker Frederick Muhlenberg, and future president James Monroe who heard the truth of the matter after accusing Hamilton of the fraudulent spending of government money. The musical spends no time on the aftermath of the pamphlet’s publication as it pertains to Maria, who, after Hamilton depicted himself as the sole victim of a blackmail scheme, was subjected to public humiliation – ultimately resulting in her divorce from James Reynolds and eventual life as a re-married and proclaimed religious woman.

The Adams Administration

Though he does not appear in the context of the musical, John Adams was an incredibly important figure in Hamilton’s career. In “The Adams Administration” there is mention of derogatory remarks hurled at Hamilton by Adams, including “creole bastard,” displaying Adams’ contempt for the nation’s first Secretary of Treasury. Indeed, in a Medium article investigating Adams’ portrayal in the musical, letters exist in which Adams describes Hamilton as a “Scottish Creole” and the “bastard brat of a Scotch Pedler.”

Despite their obvious feelings toward each other, Adams did not fire Hamilton as the musical asserts. In reality, Hamilton resigned as Secretary of Treasury during the Washington Administration, two years prior to Adams ascension to the office. Hamilton’s written criticism of Adams, entitled “ A Letter from Alexander Hamilton, Concerning the Public Conduct and Character of John Adams” was not distributed until 1800, three years into Adams’ presidency.

Hamilton Ending: Alexander’s Death & The Final Song Explained

Aaron Burr and the Legendary Duel

As previously stated, the musical elides much of the Hamilton-Burr relationship, certainly to draw connections and parallels between the two men as they march toward the duel of legend which we witness in Hamilton’s final minutes. While grievances were certainly numerous, much of the tension between them manifested itself late in Hamilton’s life. The musical alludes to Hamilton’s refusal to endorse Burr during the Presidential Election of 1800 as the primary catalyst for their duel in Weehawken, New Jersey.

However, the details and involvement surrounding Hamilton and the election results are different according to history. By 1800, Hamilton’s political influence had waned and his endorsement was not likely to swing the election one way or the other. The primary conflict for the 1804 duel came in the form of Burr’s gubernatorial race, where Hamilton worked to undermine him, motivated by mutterings of New England desiring to leave the union. Many of the New England senators, upset with policies laid out by the Jefferson Administration, looked to Burr as an advocate for their desired succession.

Hamilton, a show so preoccupied with themes of “history” and “legacy” certainly goes out of its way to paint a picture of a man and a time that is often at odds with reality. However, one cannot judge Miranda and the creators too harshly considering Hamilton’s eventful life nor the nearly 800-page tome by Ron Chernow which serves as the musical’s primary source. It is arguable that such changes lead more engaging, fleshed-out characters, a tighter narrative, and some of Hamilton’s most iconic moments. Just why these changes and elisions were made will remain unclear for everyone except for those who were in the room where they happened!

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/hamilton-historical-inaccuracies-wrong-true-story/

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