Alexander Hamilton
In the musical, in the song "Alexander Hamilton", Hamilton’s childhood home is portrayed as having being destroyed by a hurricane.
Did a hurricane actually influence his path to America, or is that just artistic license?
True — a hurricane hit St. Croix in 1772, and Hamilton’s published letter about it impressed local benefactors who paid for him to study in New York.
In Hamilton: An American Musical, in the songs "Aaron Burr, Sir" & "Wait for It", Aaron Burr is portrayed as an orphan. Was he an orphan when he met Hamilton in real life?
Yes, this is historically accurate, because Burr’s parents both died when he was young.
The musical, in the song "The Schuyler Sisters", introduces only three Schuyler sisters — Angelica, Eliza, and Peggy.
Is it historically accurate that these were the only daughters in the Schuyler family?
No, the Schuylers had 8 living children, including other daughters not shown in the musical.
In the musical, in the songs "Stay Alive" & "Yorktown": John Laurens is portrayed as a passionate abolitionist, pushing for the emancipation of enslaved people and envisioning them fighting for freedom in exchange for liberty. Was he the same in history?
Yes. Laurens actively worked to end slavery. He proposed forming regiments of enslaved men who would be freed in exchange for military service during the Revolutionary War.
In the musical Hamilton, in the song "Non Stop", Alexander Hamilton is appointed as the first Secretary of the Treasury. Did Hamilton also hold this position in real life?
Hamilton truly was the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury (1789–1795), and he was responsible for establishing the nation’s financial system, creating the national bank, and managing federal debt.
In Hamilton: An American Musical, in the song "Wait for It", Aaron Burr sings about his lover Theodosia. Did Aaron Burr really have a relationship with a woman named Theodosia in real life?
Yes, when Aaron Burr first met Theodosia Bartow Prevost, she was already married to a British army officer, Jacques Marcus Prevost. He was much older than her and often away on military duty. Burr and Theodosia developed a close intellectual and romantic connection while she was still married. After Prevost died in 1781, Burr and Theodosia married in 1782.
In the musical, in the song "Satisfied", Angelica claims, "My father has no son so I'm the one who has to social climb for one." Does she really have no brothers?
No. Out of the 8 living Schuyler siblings, 3 were sons. She has 3 brothers.
In Hamilton: An American Musical in the song "Guns and Ships", Lafayette sings about bringing French aid to the American Revolution. Did Lafayette really provide France’s help in real history?
Yes. Lafayette was a key figure in securing French assistance. As a young French nobleman, he crossed the Atlantic to fight with the Americans and became a trusted aide to Washington.
In the musical, according to the song "The Election of 1800", Hamilton played a big part in the outcome of the Election of 1800. Did he play a big part in the Election of 1800 in history?
Yes. Alexander Hamilton was instrumental in breaking the deadlock during the contentious election of 1800 by using his influence to persuade Federalists in the House of Representatives to vote for Thomas Jefferson. Hamilton viewed Jefferson as the lesser of two evils, leading him to campaign for his long-time rival.
In “Your Obedient Servant”, the musical portrays Burr and Hamilton writing angry letters to each other that escalate into a duel. Were these letters also written in history?
Yes. Historically, the letters also included the phrase "Your Obedient Servant", although they did not use the phrase sincerely.
In the musical, in the song "Satisfied", Angelica is portrayed as unmarried when she meets Hamilton at the Winter’s Ball.
Historically, was Angelica was single at the time she met Hamilton?
No. Angelica had already eloped with John Barker Church years earlier, before she met Hamilton.
In Hamilton: An American Musical, “The Room Where It Happens” portrays Jefferson, Madison, and Hamilton striking a secret dinner-table deal to move the nation’s capital to the South in exchange for support of Hamilton’s financial plan. Historically, did such a compromise did occur?
Yes. In 1790, Congress passed legislation that assumed the states debts, and also passed legislation establishing the federal capital on the banks of the Potomac River. While the details of the bargain are fuzzy, there is no doubt that compromise happened and resolved the funding issue.
In the song "Non-Stop", the musical highlights Hamilton’s non-stop writing, portraying it as an obsession unique to him.
In Hamilton, he is portrayed as writing the majority of the Federalist Papers. Is this historically accurate?
Yes — his 51 Federalist Papers, reports, and endless correspondence made him unusually prolific compared to peers. He wrote 51, compared to Madison’s 29 and Jay’s 5.
In Hamilton: An American Musical, in the song "The Election of 1800", Aaron Burr actively campaigns in the 1800 election, leading to a tie with Thomas Jefferson until the House decides. Did Aaron Burr run for president in real life in the election of 1800?
Burr did run for office in the Election of 1800. Burr received as many electoral votes as Jefferson (73 each), resulting in a tie. The election was sent to the House of Representatives, which ultimately chose Jefferson as President, with Burr becoming Vice President
The musical (in the songs "Satisfied" & "Take a Break") suggests a romantic tension between Hamilton, Eliza, and Angelica, implying Angelica may have feelings for Hamilton.
Historically, is there evidence that Angelica and Hamilton had any type of romantic relationship?
No. Their correspondence was witty and flirtatious, but there’s no historical evidence of a romantic relationship beyond the flirtatious letters.
In the musical Hamilton, in the songs "Blow Us All Away" & "Stay Alive: Reprise", Philip Hamilton is shown as Alexander Hamilton’s son who dies in a duel, defending his father's honor. Did this event also happen in history?
Yes. Historically, Philip duels because he is defending his father’s reputation after George Eacker insulted Hamilton in a speech. He died after being shot in the duel.
In the musical, in the songs "Say No to This" & "The Reynold's Pamphlet", Hamilton is shown having an affair, which ultimately becomes a major scandal.
Is this portrayal is historically accurate?
Yes. Hamilton had an affair with Maria Reynolds, which he publicly admitted in the Reynolds Pamphlet in 1797.
In Hamilton: An American Musical, in the song "The World was Wide Enough", Aaron Burr shows deep regret after killing Alexander Hamilton. Did Burr regret killing Hamilton in history?
No. According to Ron Chernow's account in Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr did not show remorse for the duel with Hamilton, and even suggested Hamilton brought the death upon himself. While Burr might have later recognized the negative consequences of his actions and the intense rivalry, there is no definitive public expression of regret from him for killing Hamilton.
True or False: In history, Alexander Hamilton first met his future wife, Eliza Schuyler, at the Winter Ball as portrayed in the musical Hamilton (in the song "Helpless").
False, Hamilton first met Eliza at her father, General
Philip Schuyler's, home while he was serving as an assistant to George Washington.
They did meet a second time at a social party, and this meeting was the start of their romantic correspondence that led to their marriage.
Washington is portrayed as a wise, noble leader — almost an untouchable figure whom Hamilton admires deeply. Songs like “Right Hand Man” and “One Last Time” highlight his military brilliance, restraint, and moral authority. However, is it historically accurate that he was portrayed as such an idol?
No. He owned enslaved people throughout his life, which complicates the “idol” image today.