On this episode of Our American Stories, long before Alexander Hamilton helped shape the Constitution or design America’s financial system, he was a child on the island of Nevis, raised among the merchants and schools of a thriving Jewish community. For generations, historians assumed Hamilton’s faith was Christian, but recent research from historian Andrew Porwancher tells a different story.

In The Jewish World of Alexander Hamilton, Porwancher pieces together overlooked records from Hamilton’s Caribbean youth and reaches a surprising conclusion: Hamilton was most likely born and educated in a Jewish household. That possibility casts new light on one of the nation’s most complex founders. Porwancher joins us to tell the story of a particular court case where Hamilton stood up for Jews. 

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, long before Alexander Hamilton helped shape the Constitution or design America&rsquo;s financial system, he was a child on the island of Nevis, raised among the merchants and schools of a thriving Jewish community. For generations, historians assumed Hamilton&rsquo;s faith was Christian, but recent research from historian Andrew Porwancher tells a different story.
In&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FJewish-World-Alexander-Hamilton%2Fdp%2F0691211159&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7C8828ad434a1341ff684208de23dc716f%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C638987626882109187%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=%2Fo%2FHrPk3ybdIct0OKwVpakU66yZVCdD4OAa0gUBWAV8%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">The Jewish World of Alexander Hamilton</a>, Porwancher pieces together overlooked records from Hamilton&rsquo;s Caribbean youth and reaches a surprising conclusion: Hamilton was most likely born and educated in a Jewish household. That possibility casts new light on one of the nation&rsquo;s most complex founders. Porwancher joins us to tell the story of a particular court case where Hamilton stood up for Jews.&nbsp;
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

Our American Stories tells stories that aren’t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we’ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit, and be inspired by our stories.

Our American Stories

Was Alexander Hamilton Secretly Raised Jewish?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/3bca9a97-6f33-443b-8dc8-b3980172faea/transcript

Advertisement