Best of Wives and Best of Women: Elizabeth Hamilton

Social Studies: U.S. History

Skills & Strategies: Main Idea

Social & Emotional Learning: Perseverance, Empathy

• Grade: 3

 Have you heard of Alexander Hamilton? He played a large role in forming the government of the United States. Alexander Hamilton also created the first U.S. national bank. Fewer people recognize Elizabeth Hamilton’s successes. She was Alexander Hamilton’s wife. She had a difficult life, but she always worked hard and persevered. To persevere is to keep trying even when things get hard.

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Print Collection, The New York Public Library. "Mrs. Alexander Hamilton (Ellizabeth Hamilton)" New York Public Library Digital Collections.

portrait of Elizabeth Hamilton

Elizabeth raised many children while Alexander was away from home. She would also help Alexander write political essays. He would often write to her and ask her for advice. One of the letters she helped write was George Washington’s Farewell Address. This letter was George Washington’s last thoughts to the American people after his second term as president.

After Alexander Hamilton died, Elizabeth wanted to make sure he was remembered. She got biographers to write about his life and organize all of his writings. She knew his work was important and should not be forgotten. Without her work, we may not know as much today about Alexander Hamilton’s life and ideas.

Elizabeth Hamilton cared deeply for those around her. She was especially inspired to help other children. So she helped to create New York City’s first private orphanage. This orphanage would care for more than 700 children. She would continue working hard to help others until she died at 97 years old.

In one of Alexander’s last letters to her, he said she was the “best of wives and best of women.” Elizabeth outlived her husband by almost 50 years, and she never stopped working for the good of the people around her.

Vocabulary Activity

organize 

synonyms:

• arrange 
• order 
• sort 

 

success 

synonyms:

• triumph 
• accomplishment 
• achievement 

recognize 

synonyms:

• realize 
• understand 
• respect 

1.

Whose wife was Elizabeth Hamilton? 

1. George Washington 
2. Thomas Jefferson 
3. John Adams 
4. Alexander Hamilton 

2.

How does the author describe Elizabeth in the first paragraph? 

1. as someone who was lazy 
2. as someone who was not very kind 
3. as someone who worked hard and persevered 
4. as someone who thought only about herself 

3.

Read the following sentences.

“After Alexander Hamilton died, Elizabeth wanted to make sure he was remembered. She got biographers to write about his life and organize all of his writings. She knew his work was important and should not be forgotten.”

What can you conclude about Elizabeth based on this information?

1. She cared about how her husband would be remembered in history. 
2. She did not want to share Alexander’s writings with anyone else. 
3. She tried to give away Alexander’s writings, but no one wanted them. 
4. She organized Alexander’s writings before he died. 

4.

The author says that Elizabeth always worked to help people around her. What is one example of her work to help people? 

1. She lived for fifty years after her husband died. 
2. She created an orphanage to care for children. 
3. She wrote Thomas Jefferson’s Farewell Address. 
4. She had a hard life but she persevered. 

5.

What is the main idea of this passage? 

1. Elizabeth Hamilton was Alexander Hamilton’s wife but they had a bad relationship. 
2. Alexander Hamilton did not trust his wife enough to let her help with any of his letters. 
3. Elizabeth Hamilton supported her husband in his political work and did her own important work, as well. 
4. Elizabeth Hamilton died 50 years after Alexander Hamilton.