How Much Money Did Hamilton Give The Reynolds

The Hamilton–Reynolds affair involved Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, who had a 4-month affair with Maria Reynolds during George Washington's presidency. The affair was ane of the first sex activity scandals in American political history.

History

Upon discovery of the affair past Maria's married man, James Reynolds, Hamilton paid him over $1,300 (almost a third of his almanac income) of blackmail money to maintain secrecy. Hamilton was forced to admit to the thing after James Reynolds threatened to implicate him in Reynolds' own scheme involving unpaid back wages intended for Revolutionary War veterans.

In Nov 1792, James Reynolds was jailed for participation in a scheme involving unpaid back wages intended for Revolutionary War veterans.

He used his knowledge nearly Hamilton'due south sex affair to bargain his way out of his own troubles. Reynolds knew Hamilton would have to choose betwixt revealing his affair with Maria or falsely admitting complicity to the charges. James Monroe, Abraham Venable and Frederick Muhlenberg were the first men to hear of this possible corruption within the nation'due south new authorities and on 15 December 1792 decided to personally confront Hamilton with the information they had received, supported by the notes of Hamilton's payments to Reynolds that Maria had given them to corroborate her husband'due south accusations. Denying whatever financial impropriety, Hamilton revealed the truthful nature of his relationship with Maria Reynolds and her married man in all its unsavory details. He even turned over the letters from both Maria and James Reynolds.

Apparently convinced that Hamilton was not guilty of the charge of public misconduct, Monroe, Venable and Muhlenberg agreed not to make public the data and documents on the Reynolds Affair. Monroe and his colleagues assured Hamilton that the matter was settled.

However, Monroe did ship the messages to his close personal friend, Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson and Hamilton were self-described nemeses, and five years afterwards receiving the letters, Jefferson used the knowledge to start rumors nearly Hamilton's individual life.

In that aforementioned twelvemonth, 1797, when Hamilton no longer held the postal service of Secretary of the Treasury, the details of his relationship with Maria and James Reynolds came to lite in a series of pamphlets authored by announcer James Thomson Callender. Included were copies of the documents Hamilton had furnished to the Monroe commission in December 1792. Hamilton confronted Monroe over the leakage of the supposedly confidential documents. Monroe denied any responsibleness. Hamilton came very close to calling Monroe a liar, and Monroe retorted that Hamilton was a scoundrel and challenged him to a duel. The duel was averted by the intercession of none other than Aaron Burr, who years later would himself kill Hamilton in a duel.

On 25 August 1797 Hamilton responded to Callender'south revelations by printing his own 95-page pamphlet chosenObservations on Certain Documents, later known as the "Reynolds Pamphlet", in which he denied all charges of abuse. He did non, however, deny his relationship with Maria Reynolds; instead, he openly admitted it and apologized for information technology. While his candor was admired, the affair severely damaged his reputation. While Hamilton'southward admitted affair served to confirm rival Thomas Jefferson's conviction that he was untrustworthy, it did nix to modify George Washington'south opinion of him, who still held him in "very loftier esteem" and who yet viewed Hamilton every bit the dominant force in establishing federal law and government.

Musical

With the affair already existence known to the audience, the Reynolds Pamphlet is commencement referenced at the stop of "Hurricane", after Alexander Hamilton asserts that every success he has in his life has come from his writings, which brings him to the decision to write his manner out of the Reynolds scandal, fearful that James Madison, Thomas Jefferson or Aaron Burr would out him despite their assurances. This leads directly into "The Reynolds Pamphlet", in which the cast of Deed II react to the titular newspaper. Information technology is seen as a big scandal and the effects of the pamphlet on Alexander'due south life is shown, particularly Angelica Schuyler shunning Alexander and Jefferson finding condolement in Hamilton'due south political life beingness over.

"Congratulations" is featured in the Off-Broadway Production of Hamilton and The Hamilton Mixtape. In this song, Angelica Schuyler shouts at and lectures Alexander, not for his affair, but for publishing the paper and embarrassing her sister and his wife, Eliza Schuyler.

Historical Inaccuracies

Most of the events bank check out in regards to the musical'southward telling of the real life events. However, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and Aaron Burr are shown to exist the ones to call Hamilton out for his financial indiscretions, while in reality James Monroe, Abraham Venable and Frederick Muhlenberg were the ones to call him out. These men are not shown or spoken of in Hamilton.

The events in the play take place during The Adams Administration, however in truth Hamilton was called out in 1792, and Hamilton didn't write the pamphlet until August 1797, which was during John Adams' Administration.

In Hamilton, Alexander Hamilton wrote the pamphlet out of fearfulness of beingness exposed. However, in reality, he already had been exposed and published the paper in order to defend himself.

Document

The entire 95-folio is available to read hither, and the comparison of the content shown in the musical tin can exist seen beneath

The Reynolds Pamphlet	Observations on Sure Documents
The charge confronting me is a connexion with one James Reynolds! For purposes of Improper speculation my real law-breaking is an amorous connection with his wife for a considerable time with his knowing consent	The accuse against me is a connection with one James Reynolds for purposes of improper pecuniary speculation. My real crime is an amorous connectedness with his wife, for a considerable time with his privity and connivance
I had frequent meetings with her, almost of them at my own house. Mrs. Hamilton with our children being absent-minded on a visit to her male parent.	Afterward this, I had frequent meetings with her, most of them at my ain business firm; Mrs. Hamilton with her children being absent on a visit to her father.