Alexander Hamilton: Play Analysis

In the Broadway musical Hamilton, based on the life of Alexander Hamilton, a conversation between Eliza Schuyler and her sister Angelica discuss the impending revolution. When Eliza expresses her concern about the violence of war, Angelica responds with how new ideas will rise from it. Conflicts create change, and a country that is just getting its start while in the midst of a war is sure to garner some interesting changes socially. Though the colonist carried some beliefs into this new nation, some social realities were shaped as a direct result of the war and would be prominent issues as the country progresses. The first example of a social change was the role of women in the colonies. When first arriving in America, women were expected to stick to the common roles of being wives and mothers. But as the war progressed and men joined the battle, women began to take on more responsibility within the households and family businesses. An example of this progression would be Mary Silliman in the role she played both in her husband’s business, as well as the role she played in his facilitating his return. Women also began finding their place among the soldiers. Sarah Osborn, the wife of a solider, served as …show more content…
As the war began to take shape George Washington stressed the need of a standing formal army, going against the principles of Whig ideology. Many people were willing to participate in the standing army at the beginning of the war, but as it progressed the enthusiasm began to fade. After the Battle of Saratoga and addition of the allies, enlistments dropped. General Washington’s goal was to lead the nation with a large standing army, and without growth this goal could not be met. At the time congress had very little power and could not tax citizen in order to build a stronger army. This led to a nationalist push, skewing the idea of a government with very limited