Question

Alexander Hamilton fell from grace when Thomas Jefferson leaked a story about

Hamilton embezzling money as Secretary of the Treasury, and Hamilton chose to make
the truth public-that he was not an embezzler but instead had affair with a married
woman and was subsequently blackmailed by her husband.
True or false?

Answer 1

Alexander Hamilton did not fall from grace due to a leaked story by Thomas Jefferson. The true reason for Hamilton's scandal was his affair with Maria Reynolds and subsequent blackmail by her husband.

Step-by-step explanation:

False.

While Alexander Hamilton did have an affair with a married woman named Maria Reynolds, it was not Thomas Jefferson who leaked the story. The affair and the subsequent blackmail by Maria's husband, James Reynolds, came to light when Hamilton chose to make the truth public in order to clear his name from the false allegations of embezzlement. The scandal damaged Hamilton's reputation but it was not directly caused by Jefferson.

Learn more about Alexander Hamilton's scandal and falling from grace.