"When the government betrays the people by amassing too much power and becoming tyrannical, the people have no choice but to exercise their original right of self-defense--- to fight the government."

"All communities divide themselves into the few and the many. The first are the rich and well born, the other the mass of the people... The people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge or determine right. Give therefore to the first class a distinct, permanent share in the government. They will check the unsteadiness of the second, and as they cannot receive any advantage by a change, they therefore will ever maintain good government."

"We are now forming a republican government. Real liberty is neither found in despotism or the extremes of democracy, but in moderate governments."

"The judiciary, from the nature of its functions, will always be the least dangerous to the political rights of the Constitution; because it will be least in a capacity to annoy or injure them... The judiciary... has no influence over either the sword or the purse, no direction either of the strength or of the wealth of the society, and can take no active resolution whatever. It may truly be said to have neither force nor will, but merely judgement; and must ultimately depend upon the aid of the executive arm even for the efficacy of its judgments."

Achievements

He became George Washington's most able and trusted aid during the Revolutionary War. Hamilton joined the war at age eighteen. Two years later, General Washington, having observed competence and leadership skills, promoted him to aide-de-camp. Washington entrusted Hamilton to attend high-level meeting and to help draft letters to governors, generals, and Congress. Later, Hamilton issued orders on behalf of Washington. At Yorktown, he commanded an infantry, eluded enemy fire, captured soldiers, and helped force the British to surrender. 

Hamilton wrote most of the Federalist Papers, which ensured ratification to the Constitution. Before it was ratified, the Constitution faced tremendous opposition. Hamilton's essays- part of a series of newspaper articles outlining how the republican form of government would function- demonstrated the advantages of a central government with built-in checks to prevent abuses of power.

Hamilton served as first Treasury Secretary and stabilized the economy. When George Washington became President, the economy was in shambles. Hamilton spearheaded the establishment of a gold-based dollar, ensured that the war debt was paid, and stated that, in justice, the purchasers (instead of the original holders) of war bonds would be paid their current value. This demonstrated that the federal government respected property rights and the sanctity of contract. A group of merchants admired Hamilton so much that they paid for a fifteen-foot marble statue of him- a statue that stood on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange before it was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1835.

Hamilton helped shaped Washington's foreign policy based on American self-interest. In 1793, when England and France were once again at war, both nations demanded America's support. Hamilton advised Washington on the Neutrality Proclamation, which declared that America would not become entangled in foreign affairs, but would be friendly to both nations and impartial in their dispute. Hamilton advocated a paid military, founded the U.S. Coast Guard, and introduced a bill to establish West Point Military Academy.

Hamilton opposed slavery. He grew up in the slave-based Caribbean and was disgusted with the brutality and rights violations he observed. He wanted slavery eradicated. Most people believe the abolition movement began in the 1830's, but in 1785, Hamilton formed the New York Manumission Society, an organization dedicated to abolishing slavery in New York and instrumental in doing so.