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csziggy

(34,120 posts)
58. Uhm, that is a myth
Wed Apr 20, 2016, 08:35 PM
Apr 2016
Misconception: Alexander Hamilton was not legally eligible to become President of the United States.

Alexander Hamilton was born on the island of Nevis in the Caribbean. It is believed by some that because he was not born in the United States, Alexander Hamilton was not eligible to become a US President according to the US Constitution.

However, the US Constitution states in Article II, Section 1:

No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President;

So according to the US Constitution, there are two ways someone can be qualified for the Presidency:

If they are a natural-born Citizen (born in the territory of the United States) -or-
If they are a citizen of the US at the time of the Adoption of the Constitution (which occured on September 17, 1787).

Alexander Hamilton, who had immigrated from the Caribbean in 1772, was a US citizen (as a citizen of New York) in 1787 and thus falls into the second group of e{li}gibility.
http://allthingshamilton.com/index.php/alexander-hamilton/false-myths-and-half-truths/71-myths-and-misconceptions/164-myths-presidency
Why Don't We Just Get It Over With And Put.... global1 Apr 2016 #1
They don't make a $200,000 bill. hobbit709 Apr 2016 #22
Boom! 840high Apr 2016 #30
Tish-boom! colorado_ufo Apr 2016 #31
That was funny metroins Apr 2016 #36
This brightened my day... TowneshipRebellion Apr 2016 #59
Putting dead presidents on the money instead of ideals. ozone_man Apr 2016 #2
Side note. Much of the blind community is pushing for Helen Keller on the $10 underpants Apr 2016 #3
She's already on the Alabama state quarter KamaAina Apr 2016 #6
I didn't know that. Thanks. N/t underpants Apr 2016 #8
Helen Keller: Suffragist, pacifist, socialist, and promoter of birth control RufusTFirefly Apr 2016 #55
'Cause you didn't go to school in Europe? KamaAina Apr 2016 #60
Just tell 'em we already did. ret5hd Apr 2016 #11
Dammit. I shouldn't have laughed. Codeine Apr 2016 #24
Oh man underpants Apr 2016 #29
You are a naughty, naughty person jberryhill Apr 2016 #52
Yeah, an announcement like this is pissing off all the right people, lol Blue_Tires Apr 2016 #4
Plus Alexander Hamilton KamaAina Apr 2016 #5
Do you have a reference for that? jberryhill Apr 2016 #9
I read it somewhere years ago. KamaAina Apr 2016 #10
Aha... jberryhill Apr 2016 #16
Wouldn't have applied melm00se Apr 2016 #15
Good catch! merrily Apr 2016 #53
Cruz is a Canadian. WinkyDink Apr 2016 #21
Not only that... reACTIONary Apr 2016 #46
Uhm, that is a myth csziggy Apr 2016 #58
It's only appropriate to put a black woman on the $20 bill... kentuck Apr 2016 #7
Yes. Yes it is... LanternWaste Apr 2016 #12
He also perpetrated genocide. Scootaloo Apr 2016 #18
This ^^ Chiquitita Apr 2016 #34
A woman born into slavery replacing a racist slave owner? Iggo Apr 2016 #23
is lady liberty really a pagan god? hfojvt Apr 2016 #13
It could be worse. Staph Apr 2016 #27
I wouldn't mind that! Mine spits out $100 bills, GRRR progree Apr 2016 #44
I happen to be fond of the $50 hfojvt Apr 2016 #57
When I was in Venice and Vienna (different times) melm00se Apr 2016 #61
I've never seen that in an American ATM. Staph Apr 2016 #63
"Liberty" as an anthropomorphic representation of an abstract concept.... jberryhill Apr 2016 #38
she's not a goddess either hfojvt Apr 2016 #56
Didn't Hamilton hate the idea of paper money? Glassunion Apr 2016 #14
I love Harriet Tubman! raging moderate Apr 2016 #17
I have been pleasantly surprised by the reactions in my area. ScreamingMeemie Apr 2016 #19
I'd like to see rock musicians on our bills. That won't happen, so I'm glad it's Harriet.nt raccoon Apr 2016 #20
"Can I get five Ramones for this Jack White?" nt Codeine Apr 2016 #25
I have petitioned many times to make Walk This Way our national anthem jberryhill Apr 2016 #49
"In Gods & Goddesses We Trust." Atman Apr 2016 #26
interesting that we refer to money as "dead presidents" Takket Apr 2016 #28
Our paper money is so boring--compared to the colors of many other countries. mnhtnbb Apr 2016 #32
i think Harriet Tubman is a great choice. nt stage left Apr 2016 #33
Am I The Only RobinA Apr 2016 #35
I'm not female but my first reaction was this was a bit too much political correctness progree Apr 2016 #45
Our currency is, by definition.? reACTIONary Apr 2016 #48
Meh... one person's tokenism is another person's inclusion jberryhill Apr 2016 #51
I was expecting Rosa Parks over Harriet Tubman tbh. romanic Apr 2016 #37
Certainly not a priority for me right now Elmer S. E. Dump Apr 2016 #39
We also have a socialist on one of our quarters: NYC Liberal Apr 2016 #40
Seriously though . . . Richard D Apr 2016 #41
I've been watching old broadcasts of Let's Make A Deal jberryhill Apr 2016 #43
Not Surprised erpowers Apr 2016 #42
This is purely ceremonial. former9thward Apr 2016 #47
The truth is that slavery built the wealth malaise Apr 2016 #50
All "free: or cheap labor, but, yes, slaves were exploited and mistreated more heinously merrily Apr 2016 #54
Its just testosterone fueled sexism and traditional American racism. liberalnarb Apr 2016 #62
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