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Thomas J. DiLorenzo

Hamilton's Curse: How Jefferson's Arch Enemy Betrayed the American Revolution--and What It Means for Americans Today Hardcover – October 21, 2008

by Thomas DiLorenzo (Author)

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Two of the most influential figures in American history. Two opposing political philosophies. Two radically different visions for America.

Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton were without question two of the most important Founding Fathers. They were also the fiercest of rivals. Of these two political titans, it is Jefferson—–the revered author of the Declaration of Independence and our third president—–who is better remembered today. But in fact it is Hamilton’s political legacy that has triumphed—–a legacy that has subverted the Constitution and transformed the federal government into the very leviathan state that our forefathers fought against in the American Revolution.

How did we go from the Jeffersonian ideal of limited government to the bloated imperialist system of Hamilton’s design? Acclaimed economic historian Thomas J. DiLorenzo provides the troubling answer in Hamilton’s Curse.

DiLorenzo reveals how Hamilton, first as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and later as the nation’s first and most influential treasury secretary, masterfully promoted an agenda of nationalist glory and interventionist economics—–core beliefs that did not die with Hamilton in his fatal duel with Aaron Burr. Carried on through his political heirs, the Hamiltonian legacy:

• Wrested control into the hands of the federal government by inventing the myth of the Constitution’s “implied powers”
• Established the imperial presidency (Hamilton himself proposed a permanent president—–in other words, a king)
• Devised a national banking system that imposes boom-and-bust cycles on the American economy
• Saddled Americans with a massive national debt and oppressive taxation
• Inflated the role of the federal courts in order to eviscerate individual liberties and state sovereignty
• Pushed economic policies that lined the pockets of the wealthy and created a government system built on graft, spoils, and patronage
• Transformed state governments from Jeffersonian bulwarks of liberty to beggars for federal crumbs

By debunking the Hamiltonian myths perpetuated in recent admiring biographies, DiLorenzo exposes an uncomfortable truth: The American people are no longer the masters of their government but its servants. Only by restoring a system based on Jeffersonian ideals can Hamilton’s curse be lifted, at last.

Print length

256 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Crown Forum
Publication date

October 21, 2008
Dimensions

5.74 x 0.97 x 8.54 inches
ISBN-10

0307382842
ISBN-13

978-0307382849
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crown Forum; 1st edition (October 21, 2008)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0307382842
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0307382849
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.6 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.74 x 0.97 x 8.54 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,407,779 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3,304 in Economic History (Books)
- #64,092 in Politics & Government (Books)
- #66,652 in United States History (Books)

Customer Reviews:
193 ratings

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Thomas J. DiLorenzo

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Thomas J. DiLorenzo is the author of The Real Lincoln and How Capitalism Saved America. A professor of economics at Loyola College in Maryland and a senior fellow at the Ludwig von Mises Institute, he has written for the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, the Washington Post, Reader's Digest, Barron's, and many other publications. He lives in Baltimore, Maryland.

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Top reviews from the United States

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billme123

Good read to understand one reason for our bloated federal bureaucracy

Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2019

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Ok DiLorenzo does not support most any policy Hamilton or his minions supported. If you get your facts from broadway plays and your news from shows like The View or Good Morning America you will not like this book. Then again you probably cannot comprehend its content either.

Although I agree with the author's premise that Hamilton's policies have done tremendous damage to America, I'm not as completely sold on his solution to give most power back to the state bureaucracies. The states have learned to copy the federal system of taxes, nepotism, grift, welfare, handouts, etc. Additionally many states created their own unmanageable financial deficits that I'm sure they expect the federal government to save them from. If a state seceded where would they look to for military protection, financial protection, disaster protection, etc. Puerto Rico and other US territories can be viewed as examples of what can be expected. No federal taxes (besides soc sec and Medicare) but expect US protection, benefits, and aid for every issue.

Read the book. It's worth the time. Digest the content. It's worth understanding. Read opposing views. It will help you form an intelligent opinion.

17 people found this helpful

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Hans Rigelman

A Legacy of Governmental Overreach and Corporate Greed

Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2017

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Dilorenzo builds an excellent case against the economic principles and centralized federal government control espoused by Alexander Hamilton and those who followed him. My only concern is laying too much of the bad results of these policies at the feet of Hamilton himself, since he died in 1804 - long before Thomas Jefferson and many of his detractors. Often the principles attributed to the founder of a particular movement can vary widely from the main goal of the founder himself. John Calvin certainly could not be held responsible for the beliefs and actions of the Calvinists centuries later. Certainly Hamilton's biggest concern at end of the 18th century was the economic and political survival of the newly formed United States of America. Looking back at how far we've come in 200 plus years, which is not something Hamilton could have known, it may be easy for us to criticize his federalist principles. However, one may also wonder if we could've survived and thrived had we only followed the principles and philosophy of Thomas Jefferson.

22 people found this helpful

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Dee S.

Would America have been a better country if Hamilton had not been born?

Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2018

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This is one of the most enlightening books I've read on the Founders. The revisionists have made Hamilton out to be such a great man when in reality his actions and philosophy were the genesis of the big central government, judicial tyranny, and central banking under which we live today. He and his ideas of strong central government were major influences on the first Supreme Court Justice John Marshall over stepping the constitutional constraints put on the courts as he usurped his powers by grabbing judicial review contrary to what Jefferson and Madison believed.

He complete went away from everything he wrote in the Federalist Papers. Lincoln, Wilson, FDR, LBJ and today's leftists/progressive all use Hamilton as an excuse for their power grabs.

I think America would have been a better country without Alexander Hamilton.

This book is a must read for anyone interested in the Founders, early American history and its impact on us today. I liked the book so much I bought additional copies for friends of mine.

16 people found this helpful

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MarkyMark

Fascinating read, but be aware

Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2017

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Very interesting peek at the small vs big government philosophical debates at our nation's founding, Hamilton on one side, Jefferson and Madison the other. Also interesting how those same arguments still take center stage, more than 200 years later.

Be aware, however, that the author has a very right-wing point of view. He clearly favors the Jeffersonian over Hamiltonian philosophy, and detests federal overreach. In fact, he also authored 'The Real Lincoln: a New look at Abraham Lincoln, His Agenda, and an Unnecessary War". Tells you where he is coming from.

So be aware, while the book is well-written and chocked full of interesting anecdotes, it's not just a history book. It's also an opinion piece, seeking to influence your views on today's political issues.

16 people found this helpful

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Adam Selene

A Sound Explanation of Current National Dilemmas

Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2017

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Watching the news, I have been wondering, "How on Earth did we get into this shape?" I found the answer to that question in this book. While Dilorenzo goes well out of his way to tar Alexander Hamilton with a bad reputation, Hamilton did much to deserve such treatment. Every last annoying thing the Federal Government has done today can be traced back to Hamilton or one of Hamilton's ideas. Our sick banking system and its rotten currency are chief among these problems. All of them stemmed from Hamilton's efforts to establish and maintain a national debt along with a central bank and its attendant inflation. Want to know why your pay does not keep up with your bills? First check to see how much you spend each month and then, if you are not spending more than you make, read this book. You will find the answer in this acerbic book.

10 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Definitely should be read

Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2020

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This is a very good book, especially the first few chapters which truly discuss Hamilton's view of what government should do and be, plus how those ideas were rejected by the founders. It then proceeds to point out how Henry Clay and Abraham Lincoln, with the "American System" brought Hamilton's Mercantilist views back into the American mainstream, and how since the Civil War, the United States government has steadily pursued the Hamilton view rather than that of Jefferson. In those sections, DiLorenzo gets a bit excited and repeats himself often. The final chapter, about how to change it, is a flaw I see a lot of people who write history doing. You've made your point, let it speak for itself.

2 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

jelliedeals

Revolutionary leaders.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 16, 2014

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A must for anyone interested in American history.it does not present an establishment slant on the subject but is well refenced and cogently argued making a persuasive case for his thesis.

One person found this helpful

Duncan Druhl

Why is not Aaron Burr lauded as a national hero?

Reviewed in Canada on December 8, 2014

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Today's problems of monster-sized government are confirmed to have arisen out of the Hamiltonian mercantilist influence adopted in the mid-19th century by the US government. I often wonder how the mercantilists persaded us that Aaron Burr was traitorous, rather than one of the great heroes for ending the royalist ambitions and destructive personal influence of Mr. Hamilton. However, as the book shows, it was one of Hamilton's acolytes, Supreme Court Justice Marshall, that did the most harm that even Andrew Jackson couldn't undo... the harm persists to this day and has framed the perversion of the Constitution that has made it virtually worthless as the constraining code on government it was designed to be. That is the legacy of Hamilton. If you like big and corrupt government, you'll dislike this book as it takes the obverse view.

3 people found this helpful

Glenn Lewis

Bitter Reality

Reviewed in Canada on February 14, 2018

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Having read a number of books on the founding fathers of the thirteen colonies; comparing their hopes and aspiration for the people of the country to the situation existing today, this novel manages to illustrate the bitter reality.

R. Kuppanna

The back cover of the book came in with a deep gash

Reviewed in India on August 25, 2021

Verified Purchase

There was a great deal of delay in getting the book(s). Am disappointed that the book came with a gash (near tear).