In August 2015, Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton took the Broadway stage by storm, becoming the most nominated production in Tony history with 16 nominations, winning 11 for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Actor in a Musical (Leslie Odom, Jr.), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Daveed Diggs), Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Renee Elise Goldsberry), Best Costume Design of a Musical, Best Lighting Design of a Musical, Best Direction of a Musical, Best Choreography, and Best Orchestrations. At first glance, one may think "A hip-hop musical that tells the story of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton? Thanks, but I'll take a hard pass." Admittedly, I was one of those people. However, once you suspend your disbelief and give it a chance, it sucks you into a vortex of absolute amazement. Once you take the plunge there is no going back, and you will be so glad you did.
Along with telling the story of Alexander Hamilton, it also tells the story of our nation's birth. In a way, it gives a sort of guide as to how to form a nation. So, without further ado, here is the guide to form a nation, according to Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton.
1. "Raise a glass to freedom, something they can never take away."
The first step is to drink. A lot. Most of the people who fought in the Revolution were no older than myself and many of my contemporaries...that is to say, college students. In fact, many of them WERE students! They were young, and you can be sure that alcohol was one of the main things that fed our break from the British crown. I mean, there was patriotism and stuff, but... I mean... Yeah.
2. Don't be afraid to "go downtown and slum it with the poor."
In this period, the the lower class was by and large the one who produced the soldiers. So naturally, the best way to get information directly from the source would be to travel downtown and listen to the goings-on around you. (For Peggy, Angelica, and Eliza Schuyler, this was also the best way to go fishing for men. That doesn't really help us build a nation, but that is where the future Eliza Schuyler Hamilton met her husband, Alexander.)
3. "Don't modulate the key, then not debate with me!"
If you have something to say, say it. Don't go around in circles, otherwise you just get annoying. Stand up for what you believe in, isn't that the whole point of a revolution?
4. You gotta get yourself "a right hand man."
Fighting a revolution is hard, especially when it's against the most powerful military force in the world and half of your Continental Congress is working against you. So who did Washington choose as his second? None other than our own Alexander Hamilton, who eventually became a major general for the battle of Yorktown, where the world turned upside down. Speaking of which...
5. Don't throw away your shot "until the world turns upside down."
After five long, hard years, the war finally ended in 1781 at the battle of Yorktown. Not only did this ensure the survival of our new nation, but it also proved that the most powerful military force in the world, that of the British Empire, could be beaten.
6. Congratulations!
You now have yourself a new country! Just remember, "Winning was easy young man, governing's harder."
