10 Things Hamilton the Musical Got Wrong

  The musical phenomena Hamilton is one amazing history lesson. But among the million facts it gave us, there were some falsehoods. Today, I will uncover 10 things Hamilton got wrong.

NUMBER 1!

I'm a girl in a world in which my only job is to marry rich. My father has no sons so I'm the one who has to soical climb for him.

-Satisfied
  That is in fact false. Cathrine Schuylar had 15 children, including the three famed Schuylar sisters.  Cathrine and Philp Schuylar had at least 5 boys and 6 girls. They lost 7 of their children before they became adults, however. Not much is known about the younger Schuylar children.

NUMBER 2! 

  I'm going to talk about Angelica one last time (pun intended). In the song satisfied, we find out that Angelica has a crush on Hamilton. This was not true. Angelica was not single but already married during the ball of 1780. 

  Later, during Non-Stop, we find that Angelica got married to a wealthy man. She says: 

I have found a wealthy husband who will keep me in comfort for all my days. He is not a lot of fun but there is no one who can match you for turn of phase.

  Angelica eloped with John Baker Cruch long before she met Alexander Hamilton.

3. 

   In the song Aaron Burr, Sir, Alex meets Aaron Burr, John Laurens, Hercules Mulligan, and Marquis de Lafayette in the bar. This meeting never happened. Hamilton meets all four men at different times and in different places. 

  Hamilton met Mulligan on before 1776 (when the song takes place) at collage. He also meets Burr before 1776. Hamilton didn't meet Laurens and Lafayette until 1777. They met in the Continental Army. 

 

4.

  In the song Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down), Hamilton admits that 

Laurens is in South Caronlina, redefining bravery

  John Laurens actually helped in leading the battle of Yorktown. During the Yorktown siege, Laurens was in Vergina and nowhere near South Carolina. 

5.

  The next fact that I will be discussing is Thomas Jefferson resigned three years BEFORE George Washington. In the song One Last Time, Washington said

Thomas Jefferson resgined this morning

  Jefferson didn't even resign the same year as Washington. Jefferson resigned in 1793 while Washington resigned in 1796. That's three years apart.

6.

  That links to out next mishap. In the song, the Addams Administration, this happens:

Addams fires Hamilton

  Hamilton quit before John Addams became president. In fact, he quit BEFORE Washington resigned. Hamilton quit his job in 1795. 

7.

  Philips Hamilton's death is arguably the sadist moment in the musical. In the musical, George Eacker is challenged to a duel by Philip. They duel because Eacker said some unkind things about Alexander. This is true. What the song Blow Us All Away got wrong was that Eacker shot before they got to 10. In the real duel, Philp and Eacker just kinda stood there for a minute. Then Philip aimed his gun at the sky and Eacker shot him. 

  In New Jersey, it was considered murder to shoot someone who aimed their gun at the sky. George Eacker was never trialed for murder. Another thing too, if you remember during Blow Us All Away, Alex and Philip both say "everything is legal in New Jersey." They say this to imply that dueling is legal. That is also not true. Just like everywhere else in the U.S,  duels where illegal. People would often overlook this law. 

8.

  We all remember Philips's cute little poem he sang when he turned nine during Take a Break. One line in the poem though is historically inaccurate. 

I have a sister but I want a little brother!"

  It is true that Philip had a sister, but what Lin-Manuel Miranda got wrong was the wish for a brother. Philip already had TWO younger brothers by the time he turned 9. Alexander Jr. and James Alexander were born before Philip turned 9.

                 

9.

    If you don't think Philp's death was the saddest part of the musical, then Hamiltons death is what brought you to tears. Yes, Lin's interpretation of the Hamilton/Burr duel was not totally accurate. 

  Does this mean Hamilton lives?? (hopeful glance). NO! THAT'S NOT WHAT IT MEANS! HE STILL DIES AND BREAKS MY HEART FOR THE THIRD TIME THAT HOUR! 

  In the song Your Obedient Servent, Burr makes it sound like the reason he is challenging Hamilton to duel because he endorsed Jefferson. It was common for men to challenge others to duels after major political loses. Historians even belive that Burr went into the duel having no intention to shoot Hamilton. 

    

10 DUEL COMMANDMENTS!

  The last historical inaccuracy takes place during the Ten Duel Commandments. In the song, Aaron Burr steps in as Charles Lee's second in command during the Laurens/Lee Duel. Charles's real second in command was a man named Even Edwards. 

 I realize that most of these things are little and there is definitely no hate towards Hamilton here! Most of these inaccuracies don't affect the story too much. Hamilton did get more right than wrong and I still love it.
  If you do like Hamilton check out my reviews on the Alex & Eliza Trilogy and Hamilton and Peggy.