With 11 Tony Awards and over 1 million copies of its score sold, there is no doubt that the musical Hamilton has captured the attention of the United States since debuted in 2015. The production's unlikely star, Alexander Hamilton, is brought to life through the creative mind of Lin Manuel Miranda, writer and producer of the musical. Hamilton uniquely conveys the story of the American Revolution using a hip hop soundtrack and one of the most imaginative librettos ever written. The result is a fusion of past and present through music and politics. With the popularity of this musical comes critics and reviews; most of which are labeled 10 out of 10 stars. But what if we were to solely evaluate Hamilton's historical accuracy? Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay This research paper will compare Alexander Hamilton's political and personal life story with the portrayal in the play. It will investigate which components of Hamilton's life are excluded or added to the production and why Lin Manuel Miranda chose to design the production this way. Expect to find that many elements of the production are implemented to allow Lin Manuel Miranda to create the theatrical vision and entertaining storyline he desires. This topic is significant as it shows a modern interpretation of historical events and how information is represented in today's world. society. It highlights how entertainment has a strong impact on the modern American population. Many people are fascinated and absorbed by Alexander Hamilton after the creation of this production. The musical has become so enormously popular that it has sparked interest in the subject among many audiences who would not have been interested without it. Hamilton highlights the trend of popularization of individuals through entertainment and the media. It has had an impact on many outlets, especially when it comes to music and performances. The show has had a strong impact on America and demonstrates the influence of entertainment. It has infiltrated a larger conversation among people of all ages and set records in the industry. The effect of manufacturing in America is undeniable. With this magnitude of effect, we must ask the question: Is the information we are getting through Hamilton reliable and consistent? Alexander Hamilton was born in 1757 on a Caribbean island called Nevis and spent much of his childhood on Saint Croix. His mother died of illness when he was eleven; a disease he had also contracted. Hamilton survived and moved in with a cousin. Shortly thereafter, a destructive hurricane demolished his city. He wrote a passionate letter about this tragedy for his local newspaper. Community members recognized his intelligence and he was motivated to move to New York for formal education. After attending several schools in New York, he abandoned his studies to fight in the American Revolution. Hamilton started as an artillery captain and rose to become an aide to General George Washington. After four years in this role, he left to join his new wife Eliza Schuler in 1781. Alexander Hamilton's political career began when he became a successful lawyer. He represented New York at the Constitutional Convention of 1786 and was active in coordinating a second meeting at which the framework of the United States Constitution was drafted. However, because he believed in a strong centralized government, Hamilton was not very involved in the creation of the Constitution. Because of his beliefs, Hamilton quickly rose to prominenceenemy those who saw him as a radical extremist. He signed the Constitution, but immediately began proposing changes. The essays conveying these propositions, known as the Federalist Papers, were written primarily by Hamilton with assistance from John Jay and James Madison. In 1790, when George Washington became president, Hamilton was chosen by Washington to be secretary of the treasury. Hamilton made major changes within the new government, including the creation of a national bank, a national stock exchange, and a centralized currency. He also proposed that the government take charge of all the debts of the individual states. This became one of many sources of conflict between him and Jefferson. Hamilton resigned in 1794 and was also involved in a significant scandal. He was involved in a three-year affair with a woman called Maria Reynolds and was blackmailed by her husband. Allegations emerged that Hamilton had used treasury money for this transaction and he decided to publish letters to the general public. These documents, known as the Reynolds Pamphlet, were published to allow Hamilton to preserve his professional life. This, in turn, completely exposed his affair and shamed himself, his wife, and his children. This scandal is known as the first national sex scandal. In the 1800 election, Hamilton was a key figure in allowing Thomas Jefferson to win over Aaron Burr, who Hamilton believed to lack basic beliefs. The relationship between Burr and Hamilton was already strained, and this event further increased the tension. They lived very similar lives and this created an intense rivalry between them. A series of essays written by Hamilton robbed Burr of the opportunity to become governor of New York. Shortly thereafter, Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel and mortally wounded him. Lin Manuel Miranda explains the progression of his ideas in his book Hamilton: The Revolution. Inside this faux leather-bound book, Jeremy McCarter and Lin Manuel Miranda create a detailed depiction of the famous musical. The book guides the reader through the composition and evolution of the show from beginning to end. The chapters provide excerpts from the musical, along with in-depth notes from the songwriter himself. The book analyzes the details of the musical meticulously, describing how and where the songs were written, provides accounts of the actors playing certain roles, and how the scenes were constructed. The book also includes photos, clippings from Miranda's personal journals, and writings by Alexander Hamilton. While many people can't see the show live on Broadway, this book is the closest thing to it. Lin Manuel Miranda follows the story of Alexander Hamilton, closely through the lens of Ron Chernow's book Alexander Hamilton. He first discovered this book while on vacation, and before finishing the copy, he began to imagine the text as a musical production. From there, Miranda began a project known as The Hamilton Mixtape, which included a version of what is now known as the opening number of Hamilton. He then spent the next year working on "My Shot", another number included in the show. These pieces were soon performed at a multitude of workshops and festivals as they were still in progress. McCarter explains that when he first heard Miranda's idea for Hamilton, he thought it was just a drunken prank. However, as the idea progressed, he realized the genius behind the fusion of rap and narrative; and modern times and the American Revolution. This creative idea turned into a real revolution, as the musical became a nationwide phenomenon and craze. McCarter and Miranda highlight their ideas behind multiracial representation thatimplement in the musical. This concept is based on the idea of ​​telling the story of the American Revolution while also describing the new and more diverse America present today. McCarter describes this concept in the introduction to Hamilton: The Revolution: “It tells the stories of two revolutions. There is the American Revolution of the 18th century...[and] the revolution of the show itself: a musical that changes the way Broadway plays, that changes who gets to tell the story of our founding, that lets us glimpse the new, more diverse America is racing towards us. The fact that Lin wrote the show largely sequentially means that this book can trace the two revolutions in tandem." The purpose of this production is not only to inform the audience about the historical life of Alexander Hamilton, but rather to showcase the new and diverse America we live in today. The production, as McCarter admits, is an amplification of Hamilton's simple life story. McCarter says, "The widely acclaimed musical that draws from the breadth of American culture and shows its audience what we share doesn't just dramatize Hamilton's revolution: it continues it." This once again confirms that this production is a dramatization and was not created for purely educational use. This concept allows us to investigate which aspects of the musical lead us to misconceptions about Hamilton's factual history. To begin this analysis, we can refer to the song “Satisfied” which describes Alexander and Eliza's wedding night. John Laurens is finishing a toast and Angelica goes on a rant explaining her desire for Hamilton. She states: “I am a girl in a world where my only job is to marry a rich man. My father doesn't have any sons so I'm the one who has to climb one" (how to quote the musical?). In reality, Angelica did not have this pressure as her father actually had fifteen children. Two of his children were sons who lived well into adulthood. Additionally, Angelica had been married to John Barker Church three years before she met Hamilton. In an interview with Genius, Miranda addresses this inaccuracy by stating that she forgot that Angelica was actually married when she met Hamilton. Miranda overlooked his forgetfulness by saying, "I think my brain wanted me to forget because it's dramatically stronger if socially she can't marry him." The absence of this fact in the musical certainly adds drama, however, it also sacrifices the validity of the production. Diving deeper into Hamilton's lyrics, we find a line in Act I that picks up on Hamilton being a repetitive character. adulterer. In the production, Aaron Burr sings that, "...Martha Washington named her wildcat after her!" to which Hamilton's character replies, "It's true!" This line refers to the fact that Hamilton is known for being amorous and possessing wildcat-like characteristics. Conversely, labeling Alexander Hamilton as lustful turns out to be one of his biggest mischaracterizations throughout time. This rumor has been proven false through multiple scholarly reports, including an event with Michael E. Newton and his book Alexander Hamilton: The Formative Years. Many gathered to hear and discuss Hamilton's truth and learn about Newton's most recent discoveries. Newton reveals that the definition of the word “cat” before 1927 was simply that of a male cat. He explains to the audience: "The myth surrounding the cat is completely false... it is highly doubtful that Martha Washington owned a cat, let alone that it was named 'Hamilton' and that it was intended to describe [Alexander Hamilton's] character ] like a womanizer.” This myth isbeen carried forward over time largely because people are careful to reject Martha Washington's words. However, after analyzing Newton's research, it can be said with certainty that Hamilton is not portrayed correctly in this scene from Hamilton. Regarding Hamilton's decline, multiple inaccuracies are shown in Act II of the production. While it is known that Alexander Hamilton and John Adams did not get along, Hamilton's removal from the Adams administration is not portrayed correctly in the musical. A major issue between the two men stems from the 1796 election, when Hamilton supported Thomas Pickney. Chernow writes of their relationship saying, “Hamilton bet on the wrong horse, a mistake that would haunt him for the rest of his career. As Treasury Secretary, he had only limited contact with John Adams, who was excluded from the inner political circle. The two men had kept a safe distance." This debacle may lead some to believe that Adams fired Hamilton, as he is depicted in the musical. During the song “TheAdams Administration,” Aaron Burr sings, “Adams fires Hamilton. In private he calls him a Creole bastard in his provocations.” While this situation may seem likely, it is entirely false. Alexander Hamilton actually resigned from his position in the Treasury in 1794. This case happened right after his wife, Eliza, suffered a miscarriage. Many wonder whether Hamilton's decision was based on this tragic occasion or was the result of his humiliating public affair with Maria Reynolds. George Washington was devastated by Hamilton's departure. Washington writes a tribute stating: In every dealing you have had with me, I have found that my trust in your talents, efforts and integrity has been well placed. I bear this testimony of my approval all the more freely because I speak from opportunities of information which cannot deceive me, and which furnish satisfactory proof of your right to public esteem. My most sincere wishes for your happiness will accompany you when you retire. Hamilton and Washington remained friends after Hamilton's resignation, and Hamilton remained politically involved. Through Washington's writings, we can confirm that Hamilton did indeed leave his position and was not fired by John Adams. The fact is that Hamilton retired before Adams was even elected president. Once again, we find this to be a historical inaccuracy in the plot of Hamilton. There is no evidence as to why Lin Manuel Miranda chose to incorporate this inaccuracy into the musical; however, it can be assumed that this scenario added tension between Adams and Hamilton's characters, further creating dramatic effect. The Reynolds Pamphlet is an impactful document on Hamilton's career, but not in the same way it is depicted in the musical. This essay, written by Alexander Hamilton himself, was written in 1797 after his affair with Maria Reynolds was exposed. After Reynold's husband found the two together, Hamilton paid him to refrain from revealing the affair to the public. These transactions were deemed suspicious and Hamilton had no choice but to reveal his secret. He used The Reynolds Pamphlet to essentially explain himself and save his political career, all while embarrassing and shaming his wife and children. In the musical, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Aaron Burr approach Hamilton about the relationship. The song "We Know" shows a scene where the three men confront Hamilton about his suspicious transactions. Madison states, “Nearly a thousand dollars, paid in different amounts,” and Burr adds, “To a Mr. James Reynolds way back in 1791.” In.