Alexander Hamilton (Wii's Alternate Elections 1788 Series)

1. Alexander Hamilton, Federalist, 1789-1793

Hamilton defeated John Jay and Abigail Adams in the 1788-89 election to become the first president of the United States. Hamilton passed a national bank, formed a national army and a navy, declared war on France, and instituted a 15% tariff and a tax on distilled spirits. There were some rebellions against his taxes and foreign policy. He also passed a sedition law and 15-year naturalization. The Commonwealth of Virginia seceded from the union, while Vermont was admitted as a state. Following Federalist wins in the 1790 and 1791 midterms, Hamilton called for conscription in the French-American War which Congress allowed. The Commonwealth of Virginia agreed to sell Kentucky to the US and it was admitted as the 15th state in September 1792.

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