Hamilton Act 1: Non-Stop Summary & Analysis

When Burr and Hamilton return from the war, both set up law practices in the same neighborhood of New York City. Sometimes they even work together on cases. But while Hamilton is brash and opinionated, Burr is still biding his time—and complaining about Hamilton’s rush (“why do you write like you’re running out of time?”).

As the contrast between Burr and Hamilton builds, Hamilton’s take-no-prisoners ambition becomes even clearer. And Burr, too, begins to notice the connection between Hamilton’s fervor and his fear of death; the “ticking clock” Miranda talks about is at work again.

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Hamilton is nominated for the Constitutional Convention, where he talks for six full hours. Motivated by what he sees at the Convention, Hamilton begins writing the Federalist Papers, a series of anonymous essays in favor of the Constitution. Hamilton asks Burr to join him in paper writing, but Burr says no—“I’ll keep all my plans close to my chest,” he responds, “I’m taking my time / watching the afterbirth of a nation / watching the tension grow.”

Early on in the show, Burr pressed Hamilton to “talk less / smile more.” Now, while everyone else passionately argues for a new law or system, Burr continues to “wait for it,” trying to strategize about the “tension” instead of diving in with his own beliefs.

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Quotes

Meanwhile, Angelica announces that she has married a wealthy British man and is moving to London. Eliza begs, again, to let be into her husband’s thought processes. And Washington gives Hamilton the opportunity to serve as the country’s first Secretary of the Treasury.

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This song moves through a lot of time, but it is important to note how Hamilton’s life is changing. Angelica, his closest counterpart in many ways, is now overseas, isolating Hamilton at the very moment he gains most power. And Eliza still feels excluded from the history her husband is so central to—and from his confidences.

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Without any melody or lyricism, Burr states the simple—and astonishing—facts. There were 85 essays in the Federalist papers, written over the course of six months. John Jay wrote 5, James Madison wrote 29, and “Hamilton wrote the other 51.”

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The absence of music here is powerful: sometimes, Miranda seems to suggest, the simple facts of history are so telling that no dramatization is necessary. Hamilton’s ambition—and his passion for the Constitution and a strong federal government—is unmatched.

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The song builds to a climax, as all of the different refrains from the first act return and intersect. “I am not throwin’ away my shot!” Hamilton cries, defiantly—and the first act is finished.

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To close out the act, the different strands of music from the first half of the show come together, reflecting the myriad voices (and states) that found harmony in ratifying the U.S. Constitution.

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Hamilton: Act 1: Non-Stop Summary & Analysis