A “Hamilton” guide to modern America
The messy and serendipitous compromise — and the brilliance behind it.
It is easy to look back at the young years of the United States — when it was great — with fondness. It is natural to commend the tremendous effort by the wise and crafty founding fathers to set America on its path to greatness. Still, people often confuse what made America so great in the first place. An acclaimed cultural juggernaut, Hamilton: An American Story portrays a nuanced perspective. For me, Hamilton declared boldly that power, virtue, and agreement did not and do not exclusively define America today. It was the struggle to overcome our human frailty, our moral contemplation, and our incessant discord, that made America who she has become.
Hamilton profiles the classic story of America’s achievement in revolting and forming an effective form of governance that would last for centuries to come. But more importantly, it provides insights into the imperfections that made America’s rise so messy. And it offers a window into the compromises that arose from the founding fathers making hard choices in the right place at the right time. Hamilton serves as a guide to the challenging political landscape America has faced throughout its history, and still faces today.
After Vice President-Elect Mike Pence’s visit to see Broadway’s Hamilton, the cast had a message for him:
“We truly hope that this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us.”
I had the privilege of watching Hamilton a couple weeks ago. While I did not receive a personal message like Mr. Pence (I wish!), I reflected on the musical’s message and reached some conclusions. I was inspired.
We should listen to the lyrics that George Washington (Christopher Jackson) sings confidently:
“I made every mistake…knowing history its eyes on me…You have no control over who lives, who dies, who tells your story.”
The Founding Fathers failed in many ways, but history remembers them with greatness. With our eyes on Hamilton, what story does it tell?
Alexander Hamilton
One of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s most famous ballads introduces Alexander Hamilton as a self-starting visionary with huge aspirations for accomplishment and glory. He is a rags to riches model for the American Dream. His friend John Laurels recalls, “Inside he was longing for something to be a part of, the brother was ready to beg, steal, barter, or borrow.” Hamilton is a symbol of the resilience of the American spirit.
Hamilton comes to America hoping to make a name for himself and capitalize on his “shot.” As we might expect, doing so is not easy. While the American dream is integral to our history, it has rarely been painless and effortless. Americans have had to make good choices, work hard (Non-stop), and get lucky. In the next song, Hamilton professes: “I wish there was a war so that we can prove that we are worth more than anyone borrowed.” Hamilton, an orphan and immigrant, proves that he is not stupid and that he can make a difference. Still today, the American dream is not only about opportunity, but also equality — anyone should be able to compel change.
Aaron Burr, Sir
Alexander takes the stage and quickly meets Aaron Burr, an eager young man who will later become a Army officer, lawyer, and politician. Burr imparts quick wisdom to the young, scrappy, and hungry Hamilton:
“Talk less, smile more. Don’t let them know what you are against or what you are for… you want to get ahead? Fools who run their mouth off wind up dead.”
Burr’s words summon the unfortunate tendency of politicians to deceive people, make faulty promises, and try to capitalize on opportunities. Burr harkens a discussion of the political game and the fine lines that politicians walk. Back then and today, politicians did what they felt they had to do to gain the power necessary to accomplish their agenda.
The entire cast of founding fathers play this game. The difference between Burr and others, like Jefferson, is that Burr lacked principles and ideas — at least according to Hamilton. At the end of the musical, Alexander has to choose who to vote for in the Presidential election: Jefferson or Burr. Faced with two poor choices (much like the 2016 Presidential Election), Hamilton endorses Jefferson. He declares: “I have never agreed with Jefferson once… but Jefferson has beliefs, Burr has none.”
My Shot
Hamilton’s beginnings show the value America has placed on opportunity and the notion that everyone should have their shot. This version of America embraces creative energy and investment in education. Consequently, Hamilton and his comrades call their fellow countrymen to rise up together, collectively, as they face troubles. They do not expect others to solve their problems, but rather to use their passion and skills to pave the way.
Story of Tonight
As the cast of revolutionary countrymen drink to freedom, we are reminded that people bind together when faced with adversity and a common enemy. The modern American public so often is pitted against each other, with no common objective to unite them. But we can “raise our glass to freedom.”
Right Hand Man
The message of this song is simple: the people around our leaders are critically important. Surely, George Washington played a significant role in America’s success as a General and President. But he needed a committed right hand man. Today, our leaders rely on staff equally, or more so, in all branches of government. We should not forget their importance to our country and to the success of our political system.
That Would Be Enough
Eliza Schuyler’s hymn challenges Americans to think about the value of public and private life. Our leaders fight very hard for change, but they often forget about what they are fighting for: family and friends. We emphasize with Eliza as she begs Hamilton to stay home: “Look around…look at where you are, look at where you started…we don’t need a legacy.” Lin-Manuel reminds us of the balance between public and private life, and the importance of remembering the family and friends we serve.
Tomorrow There Will Be More of Us
After the death of John Laurens, Hamilton’s close friend, Eliza shares that “John dreamed of emancipating and recruiting 3000 men for the first all-black military regiment.” This dream is one that was only slowly realized, and still faces troubled waters today. This song has a simple message for America today: “tomorrow there will be more of us.” Although Laurens will not live to see our glory, he knows other citizens will carry on his cause.
Dear Theodosia
Burr and Hamilton cared about how they left the country for their family. Both had genuinely good intentions. Speaking to the children, who would inherit their country, they “pledged to bleed and fight for you.” They proclaimed, “If we lay a strong enough foundation…we’ll give the world to you and you’ll blow us all away.” Burr and Hamilton disagreed —a disagreement that eventually ended in Hamilton’s death — but they both cared deeply about this country and its future. Modern Americans disagree, too. Still, they care about their country’s future. As we face diametrically different ideologies today, we should remember that.
Cabinet Battle #1 and #2
Hamilton’s Cabinet battles illustrate that our founding fathers spent much of their time sitting around and arguing, much like American leaders do today. It is surprising that they got anything done. In this vigorous debate, everyone had an opinion, on topics like states rights, the economy, slavery, and foreign policy. First, it took the external oppression and numerous intense debates for the people to choose revolution. Then, it took years to determine a suitable form of government and to sort out the ways to govern. Slowly but surely, the founding fathers establishing a working government. The internal conflict demonstrates our historical distrust of each other and the nasty rhetoric that occupies our political arena.
While the Founding Fathers originally reached compromise, it was a messy process, as it is today. Our leaders have agendas. They are often uncompromising. They are partisan and polarized. But they can sometimes find solid ground, with time, social pressure, and institutional change. When they do, even at the margins, America demonstrates its greatness.
The Room Where It Happens.
In this furious rant, Burr paints a picture of the elite that modern America detest, with their smoke filled rooms and power circles. Burr narrates a trade between Jefferson and Hamilton —a quid pro quo — in order for Hamilton to get votes for his financial system and Jefferson and Madison to get Washington D.C. as the nations capital. The Room Where It Happens illustrates the shady tradeoffs in politics. These “deals,” or compromises, are how America was made: “not every issue can be settled by committee.” Leaders sought to be inclusive and transparent, but not always.
In modern America, a quid pro quo signals corruption: just recall Hillary’s Clinton Foundation scandal. But Hamilton reminds us in Non-stop that “corruption is such an old song that we can can sing along in harmony, and nowhere is it stronger than in Albany.” Corruption — the use of public power for private gain — is ages old. We can expect our politicians to wheel and deal in America today, but should do our best to minimize it as possible and allow it only when our leaders have good intentions. Burr decries “no one really knows how the game is played, the art of the trade, how the sausage is made, we just assume that it happens.” Burr was not criticizing his peers — he was pleading to be in the room where it happens. Hamilton confirms: the art of the compromise is not as simple as we would like.
The Reynolds Pamphlet
The menacing lyrics of this short piece profile the scandal that has followed our political leaders over the centuries. Even the best intentioned men and woman have made mistakes, personally and professionally. First, Jefferson, Madison, and Burr try to scare Hamilton by revealing knowledge of the Reynolds scandal. Then, after Hamilton releases a pamphlet showing that he didn’t break the law, Jefferson rejoices that Hamilton was “never going to be President now…because he was never going to be satisfied.” The human desire for power and pleasure, whether good or evil, challenges us all. Nonetheless, despite the Hamilton’s failures, the nation moves on. Jefferson and Madison capitalize on his misfortune to advance their cause. Yet they do not forget Hamilton’s contributions.
Burn.
After Alexander releases his greatest mistake, the Schuyler sisters reflect on their misgivings. “Be careful with that one: he will do what he needs to survive. He built me palaces out of paragraphs…I’m searching for some kind of sign of when you were mine.” Regardless of the good that Hamilton has done, this misstep burns. Alexander is an imperfect man.
People’s mistakes — and even more-so our leaders mistakes — make us doubt their value and commitment. We often forgive our family and friends, but we have high hopes for our leaders to solve our problems and deliver us to the promised land. Modern America has too high of exceptions for our leaders.
Quiet Uptown.
At this stage in Hamilton, we can feel the pain of Alexander Hamilton, his family, and by extension, his country. One of the greatest leaders in American history was broken. Hamilton has lost much of his dignity, the opportunity to lead the country, and most troubling, his son. Quiet Uptown offers one of the most powerful conclusions Hamilton can offer: “we learn to live with the unimaginable.” Dealing with their hardship, Eliza recants:
“There are moments that the words don’t reach. There is a grace too powerful to name. We push away what we can never understand. We push away the unimaginable.”
Americans do not forget — and indeed we shouldn’t— the injustices, lies, and slights we face. But Eliza’s most resonant word rings true as a fundamental value of the American fabric: forgiveness. As a collective citizenry, we struggle to confront violence, betrayal, oppression, fraud, and division. The everyday challenges of life have ebbed and flowed, but not ceased.
American leaders are not exempt. They are imperfect men and women who will fail us. While they will burn us, we can learn to forgive and to help each other improve for the better, just as they do. As Americans, we have pushed through mistakes and misgivings to sort through our collective baggage together. It is time to continue to do so today.
The Election 1800
Hungry for power and a place in American lore, Aaron Burr undertakes political maneuvers to run to become the third President of the United States. His opponent, Thomas Jefferson, establishes Burr’s weakness: he “is not very forthcoming on any particular stances.”
Discarding their tumultuous history, Madison suggests to Jefferson that it “might be nice to get Hamilton on your side.” The political game appears again, showing the willingness of American politicians to make sacrifices as a means to an end. Jefferson was the first opposition candidate to win an election, but the competition would continue until today. After all, there are no permanent victories in politics.
Hamilton declares that he has not agreed with either Burr or Jefferson, on nothing at all. Again, America pits arrogance against arrogance. But Hamilton votes for the man who has principles: Jefferson. Modern America could do more to determine our principles, justify them, and vote for them.
The World Was Wide Enough
After Burr shoots Hamilton, Burr solemnly laments that he is the villain in our history, that he “was too young and blind to see and should have known that the world was wide enough for both Hamilton and me.” Burr was Hamilton’s “first friend and enemy.”
American history, and human life, is not as black and white as we want it to be. Good people make mistakes, and bad people make change. Hamilton and Burr had a complicated relationship — as do the American people to each other. But it is important to try and remember, as Burr was forced to do, that the world is wide enough for all of us. America will make mistakes, but we should remember Hamilton’s definition of legacy: “it is planting seeds in a garden you never get to see.”
Indeed, America is “a great unfinished symphony.”
Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story
Jefferson and Madison were both friends and rivals with Hamilton. In spite of their differences, Jefferson recalled: “I will give him this — his financial system is a work of genius. i couldn’t undo it if I tried… and I tried.” Madison praised Hamilton: “He took our country from bankruptcy to prosperity. I hate to admit, but he doesn’t get enough credit for all the credit he gave us.” The rivalry between these great thinkers illustrates that Americans can respect the other side through disagreement.
Both our friends and enemies tell our story. Regardless of what we preach and what we do, we are all Americans. America’s brilliance is not only represented by our compromise and collaboration. It lies in the spirit that gets us there: our collective struggle — through messy imperfections — to choose the right direction when we stumble upon the smallest of opportunities. We should embrace this legacy and this identity.
Hamilton: the American story does.
