Death of General Washington Compared to Alexander Hamilton - Research Paper Example

Task: “Comparison between the deaths of the General Washington, and Alexander Hamilton, How this moment in their lives reflect their religious convictions, their Christian affiliation, their view of Christianity and Christianity's role in government”. Introduction General Washington had pneumonia, which became worse because of the weakening of immune system to the point he could not fight the disease. Doctors believed that his death resulted from streptococcal virus of the larynx. This causes inflammation of the inner side of the larynx causing to asphyxiation. Alexander Hamilton died as Aaron Burr shot him. Aaron was a political opponent in the famous duel that ended his life in 1804. Some Hamilton’s last words were about his faith in Christ and his firm belief in Christianity and fervent hope of clemency through the virtues and mediations of Christ1. Washington’s religious convictions Washington and his family were initially Anglicans. Washington used to go to church in his wife’s company. He never participated in some rituals like taking communion. He therefore, used to leave the church before the services ended so that he did not take the communion. This went on until he ceased attending church on communion occasions since a priest reprimanded him. He attended many services at many churches as a President. Among those churches he attended were Presbyterian, Catholic, Quaker, and Congregational. He officially addressed twenty-two religious groups, which gave him more understanding on religion. Washington was a very generous man who attended many charity events and donated to the poor, schools, and colleges. In 1793, widows and orphans in Philadelphia suffered from yellow fever endemic that distressed the capital city. As a leading citizen, Washington led the country in demonstrating charity to the affected2. General Washington’s Christian affiliations General Washington was an honest leader who believed in religious rights, and used his powers as general and president to enhance goodwill among Protestants, Catholics, and Jews. Both in public and in private, he denounced prejudicial tendencies of diverse kinds together with religious bigotry. He was always deluding of making every American to enjoy the provisions within their boundaries as illustrated by his ideologies in the book of Micah. He was not superstitious since he hoped that America would be a place where truth and reason will overcome biases and superstition. Washington also used to go to church and he was an affiliate of the Anglican Church. Before the war began, he was a successful proprietor who served on the vestry for Christ Church in Alexandria, Virginia and for Pohick Church, which was close to his Mount Vernon home. The parish was the part of local government and it deal mostly with public matters like roads. Washington and other Framers emphasized the Christian ideologies of America. He did not separate his Christian principles from his public policies. This is evident in the American Revolution when he reminded his soldiers, that for them to be patriotic, they should show the characters of true Christians. He called on every man and officer to live and act like Christian soldiers shielding the treasured rights and autonomy of his country. He also assured the Delaware Indians who had their children in American schools that the congress would do everything to assist them in their wise intentions of wanting to learn the religion of Jesus Christ. Washington liked using Christian references and rhetoric in official acts and writings.3 Washington used to declare his Christianity loyalty openly. This is what all the honest Christians do unless they are hypocrites. Washington was not a hypocrite because most of the people who knew him best proved that. Washington was a true deist who appeared to have the characteristics disregard of the past Deist for the appearance and doctrine of institutional belief. Additionally he had a strong hatred of the “upper-class Deist for sectarian” disagreements that threatened to disturb peace in the society4. Washington strongly believed in the Bible and did not change any Bible message to suit his own pious believes. Washington was highly companionable about Deism. He admired and practiced Stoic viewpoint of the Romans, which accentuated morals and humanitarianism. Washington religiously observed the Sabbath as a resting day and used to go to church on this day5. He attended many sermons, which he saved them and as a means of showing his love for Christianity, he read them aloud to his wife. Furthermore, he hanged pictures of Virgin Mary for her honor in his house. Unlike the Jefferson, Washington agreed to be the godfather of some children. This required a serious commitment because godparents had to accept to help ensure that a child was raised in the Christian faith. To show Washington’s acceptance to be a godfather, he gave his godsons and daughter bibles. The priests who served during his time for the several years of the “Revolutionary War” indicated that Washington believed in Christianity. Neither the press, nor his opponents, said that he was not Christian. Being a Christian, he demonstrated his Christian character throughout his life. Hamilton’s Religious convictions Hamilton was religious too during much of his time. When he was a youth, Hamilton was an orthodox and conformist Presbyterian of “New School” evangelical category in the West Indies6. A student of “John Witherspoon” from the New School taught him fundamental Christian aspects. Hamilton loved religious songs and he wrote three hymns, which were published in the local newspapers. He was very religious at that time and used to pray daily on his knees night and morning. Hamilton’s Christian believes at his youth formed a foundation of his loyalty and his dedication for the good of a country that was not, originally, his own. At the age of 15, he witnessed hurricanes that were the most destructive in the history of West Indies. This was in 1172 when wrote his “Hurricane Letter” which was one of his expressive writings7. Based on his Presbyterianism, he experienced God’s supremacy and annoyance manifested through the hurricane. From this experience, Hamilton was impressed with the immorality of man and power of God. He came up with his view that God’s power in the hurricane was to show the weakness and sinfulness of man. Hamilton’s moral conviction that showed he was religious was when he opposed slavery. He believed that blacks are human beings and they ought to have equivalent rights as the whites. He further said that blacks and whites are all special God’s creations. Hamilton then formed a plan that would encourage plantation owners to allow some of their slaves to go free if they would agree to fight in the American lines for American independence. Hamilton’s political viewpoint originated from his outlook of the natural order recognized by God8. Hamilton later started changing and began to joke about God at the lawful principles. During the French revolution, he used Christianity for political ends and insisted that Jefferson’s democracy and Christianity were not compatible. He did not view faith as the base of one’s life on earth. To Hamilton, religion and its true meaning should be through purity of spirit and ethics, in one’s worldwide, and in ones political stands, which in what is conventionally considered religious activities. When he was an adult life, there was no evidence that he was religious in the conventional sense. He spoke little about religious subjects unlike Washington. He then changed his thoughts after having so many misfortunes and emphasized that Christianity was true. He further supported the “Christian Constitution Society” then he wrote “Christian Welfare Societies” help the poor9. Hamilton was not an affiliate of any church. Hamilton said he believed in God’s mercy after they shot him and a bishop administered to him communion. Alexander Hamilton’s Christian affiliation In his adult life, there is scant evidence that Alexander had interest in God, religion or church. He mentioned God minimally. He only mentioned God two times in the two letters during the war. Hamilton’s wife, Betsy Schuyler, was a religious and an affiliate of the “Dutch Reformed Traditions10. Hamilton was an essential principal of the Federal Party and an enemy of the French Revolution. He appealed to God as validation for his opposition to pure democracy and his dislike for Thomas Jefferson. Throughout those years when spiritual sayings were so frequent on his lips, Hamilton seemed further from God and his ideologies. From then his political profession began fell. Many things occurred which lead to his defeat. His adored “Federal Party” was declining, becoming more restrained, pleasing President John Adams11. In weakness, Hamilton decided to turn to God. However, it was not God of supremacy and rage as portrayed in the “Hurricane Letter”. Rather it was God of kindness and sympathy. Consequently, Hamilton became a transformed man. His arrogance and need for power changed into politeness. He even became spiritually devoted and became committed to his family. Paradoxically, the changed Hamilton was imposed by a gunshot wound from his political opponent Aaron Burr. Before the duel, he had disclosed to a friend that he would not fire the first shot at Burr because of his Christian belief against killing. Comparison between General Washington and Alexander Hamilton’s Christian faith Washington showed his strong believe in Christianity from the time he was young to his death. He exuded strong faith in Jesus Christ thus announcing it in public through his speeches. Never at any instant did he shun Christianity. Significant proportion of the leaders of the churches he attended proved that he was a man of God. Alexander Hamilton showed his faith for Christianity at his youth. That was the time, when his friends saw him praying every morning and evening. However, later when he was an adult, there was no solid evidence that he still believed in Christianity. He never announced his religious faith like Washington. Later in his life after his downfall, he announced his faith in God and he even received Communion as a sign of Christ acceptance. Christianity's role in government Christianity is responsible for important ideas and institutions that remain central to our lives. It is through Christianity that persons find the value of the equality of life. The Christian virtue of equality encouraged the campaign to end slavery and the movement for democracy and popular self-government, and the triumphant effort to articulate an international principle of human rights. Christianity has shaped the great societal changes. If the west refuses Christianity, it will also reduce the autonomous morals that Christianity introduced to humanity. The end of Christianity also means the ending of ethics like equal rights that every one cherishes12. From the past, Christians have responded appropriately to the American government. Since the founding of United States and the beginning of modern equality, this connection has improved. People have often argued that the U.S was founded upon Christian ideals; some have called America a Christian state. The advantaged position of Christianity during the era was attributable to the broad principles and the initial precepts of unquestionable Christianity supported liberty13. Aspects that distinguished America from other countries are that Framers of the Constitution knew the significance of Christianity and framed the constitution according to the biblical framework14. America uses this as its strength and one fails to find such statement in other countries especially the upcoming nations. Evidently, Christianity along with its main message of capitalism and independence strongly influenced America. John Adams was the succeeding head of US and he enhances the role of Christianity in providing the fundamental basics for the society. Apart from Adams, Washington was a founding father who discussed the relevance of spiritual values. The framers of the new government supposed that the people ought to choose leader with integrity. George Washington said that religion and morality are very important aspects, which leads to political prosperity15. Daniel Webster also acknowledged religion and particularly Christian religion in the government. In his famous speech in 1820, he said that America’s ancestors had established a structure of administration on morality and religious sentiment. He believed that moral habits could only be trusted on religious principle, and security of a government arises from moral habits. Furthermore, he said that citizens could be good if they practice Christianity16. It is evident that John Jay was a noticeable essayist of the Federalist paper. Consequently, he became America’s initial Justice in the Supreme Court. He also had a strong Christian belief and was the president of American Bible Society. He acknowledged the connection between the government and the Christian values. In his speech, he said, “Providence has given to our nation to select and prefer Christian for their leaders, and it is the duty as well as the rights and significance of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christian for their rulers.”17 Preaching within the churches gave the reason for the founding a new nation. For more than two generations, people of England had teachings about the importance of their rights and had to depend on God. To protect them, they had a right to resist and if necessary modify and eliminate governments and establish new ones using the same concepts. Christian thoughts were vital in the establishment of the republic of the framing of the American legislative entities. Christianity also played a very vital role in the maintenance of the republic. Conclusion Conclusively, the American government benefited from Christianity is countless ways. Through Christianity, leader could lead the state with integrity. Christianity also emphasized equality, which led to the announcement of independence. Christianity played a big role in America’s government because it was instrumental in framing the American legislative institutions. The American leaders like Washington and Hamilton believed in Christianity and used its moral teachings to lead the country. Works Cited Anderson, Kerby. American Government and Christianity. Bible. Org. 2004. Web. November 7th 2011 Djupe, Paul. & Olson, Laura. Encyclopedia of American Religion and Politics. New York, NY: Infobase publishing, 2003. Print Hines, Emilee. Speaking Ill of the Dead: Jerks in Washington, D.C., History. Guilford, CT. Globe Pequot. 2011. Print Marsden, George. Barton, David. & Sassi, Jonathan. Christian America?: Perspective on Our Religious Heritage. New York, NY. B&H Publishing Group. 2011. Print Read More