Hamilton: An American Musical is a brilliant work of theater with an uplifting message, but Hamilton the politician may not merit as much praise. Enthusiasm for the smash-hit show should not be used to advance the falsehood that the real Alexander Hamilton, or any other public official, invented our financial system or American capitalism itself.

Edward P. Stringham is a Research Fellow at the Independent Institute; Kathryn Wasserman Davis Professor of Economic Organizations and Innovation and Deputy Director of the Shelby Cullom Davis Endowment at Trinity College; and contributor to the book In all Fairness: Equality, Liberty, and the Quest for Human Dignity.
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Other Independent Review articles by Edward P. Stringham
Summer 2017 Should We Be Pushing for More Equality of Income and Wealth?
Spring 2005 Is Government Inevitable?: Comment on Holcombe’s Analysis
Summer 2004 Commerce, Markets, and Peace: Richard Cobden’s Enduring Lessons
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