Alexander Hamilton: Driving Force Behind New York Decision To Ratify

June 26, 1788, only one day after the ratification of the Constitution by Virginia, New York becomes the 11th state to ratify. This surprising victory for the Federalist came as a result of the efforts of Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton, who was elected a New York delegate to the Continental Congress in July 1782, and who became a director of the Bank of New York in February 1784, is truly a man to be admired. He is to be commended for his efforts in establishing a stronger central government. Beginning with his private letters, written during the early days of Confederation, Hamilton has since taken various steps to create a strong central government, steps that seemed almost useless, until today.

Dissatisfied with the political drift occurring during the Confederation period, Hamilton first set forth his plans for strengthening the federal government, in private letters. Then, about 5 years ago, he unsuccessfully proposed that Congress be empowered to nominate its own officers to collect revenues from the people. This failure did not however, dissuade him from pursuing a strong central government. Instead it encouraged him to fight harder and in May 1787, about a year ago, he attended the Constitutional Convention. A known nationalist, favoring a strong executive and the election of the House by the people instead of the state legislatures, Hamilton blasted the states' rights proposal of William Paterson. He was forced to leave the Convention a month later, but eagerly returned in August to finish and then sign, the Constitution.