Alexander Hamilton: Proto-Progressive or Conservative Founding Father?

How should conservatives understand the legacy of Alexander Hamilton? On the one hand, Hamilton, more than any other founder, was responsible for placing the newly established government of the United States on a sound financial footing and laying the groundwork for America’s thriving capitalist economy. These are accomplishments that most conservatives will admire. On the other hand, in his own day, Hamilton was known as a strong proponent of an energetic national government and a broad interpretation of the national government’s powers. These are positions many conservatives may well suspect. Was Hamilton a proto-progressive, a founding-era forerunner of the contemporary left’s thirst for big government? Or was Hamilton within the mainstream of American constitutional conservatism, championing a vision of both active but also limited government? Join us for a program featuring three scholars of the American Founding as they discuss the political thought and statesmanship of this celebrated but controversial founder.