8 Introduction of a stronger union of states. Their votes therefore nullified Hamilton’s on any matter of importance. Nevertheless, when the convention faced deadlock following disagreement over the previously intro- duced Virginia and New Jersey Plans, Hamilton offered his own plan as an alternative. Hamilton proposed a strictly national system based loosely on a republicanized version of the British consti- tution, which he praised for its strength and stabil- ity. Although it had no chance of acceptance, the extremity of Hamilton’s proposal in comparison to Madison’s more moderate Virginia Plan redirected deliberations and encouraged conciliation and compromise. At the conclusion of the convention, Hamilton, in spite of some misgivings, believed that the chance that good would come from the new constitution far outweighed the anarchy and disorder that would likely plague the nation in its absence. He thereby pledged unwavering support for its ratification. In order to go into effect, the proposed Con- stitution had to be ratified by popular ratifying conventions in at least nine of the thirteen states. Acceptance by delegates of the people, however, was by no means guaranteed, and a fierce polem- ical debate broke out between supporters and opponents in an effort to sway public opinion. Those who supported the proposed Constitu- tion’s division of sovereignty between an autono- mous national government and the several states adopted the title Federalists, while those who pre- ferred that ultimate sovereignty continue to reside in the states were branded Anti-Federalists. The battle for ratification was particularly intense in New York—which, as a centrally located, popu- lous, and resource-rich state, was important not only for ratification but also for the future success of the nation. Thus, Hamilton once again entered the battlefield as a leading advocate for ratification. Following a series of particularly virulent attacks against the proposed Constitution in the New York press, Hamilton conceived of a collaborative plan to help win ratification. He solicited fellow Federalists John Jay and James Madison to join him in authoring a series of essays defending the proposed Constitution. The series, which totaled 85 essays in all, evolved into the most compre- hensive and reasoned defense of the Constitution ever produced. Following publication in New York newspapers, between October 1787 and April 1788, they were published as a book, The Federalist, and were circulated throughout the states. Hamilton, who wrote the bulk of the essays, focused primar- ily on the importance of vigor and energy in gov- ernment and the need to balance order and liberty. His commentary touched on a variety of subjects, including the failures of the previous confederacy, the benefits of a strong union, military matters, commerce, taxation, the executive, the judiciary, and the Bill of Rights. In late July 1788, Hamilton— appealing to many of the arguments he had first developed in The Federalist—helped secure narrow approval of the proposed Constitution at the New York ratifying convention in Poughkeepsie. Once the Constitution was scheduled to go into effect, Hamilton turned his attention to the task of putting the machine into motion. He understood that after the particularly contentious battle for rat- ification, the success of the new government would depend on cultivating the respect and attachment of the people. No office in this regard was more important and controversial than the newly con- structed presidency. Hamilton—recognizing that George Washington’s unmatched reputation for integrity and devotion to the country would legit- imate the office—persistently urged Washington to once again leave retirement at Mt. Vernon and serve as the nation’s first chief executive. Washing- ton complied and on February 4, 1789, was unan- imously elected the nation’s first commander in chief by the Electoral College. Section VII: Secretary of the Treasury On September 2, 1789, shortly after assuming the presidency, Washington signed a law creating the first four executive cabinet heads: the secretary of
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