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  • Writer's pictureJoshua Li

37. Reynolds Pamphlet

Updated: Aug 21, 2023

Hamilton publishes the Reynolds Pamphlet to the public, in which he detailed the entire Reynolds affair, from him cheating with Maria Reynolds to James Reynolds extorting Hamilton for money. At last, Jefferson's wish for many years have been answered as Hamilton can no longer become president due to his immoral and humiliating actions. The situation was severe enough that Angelica came back from London for her sister, Eliza. When she returned (in the musical), she said "you could never be satisfied, God, I hope you're satisfied", which accurately highlights Hamilton's consistent decision to choose his legacy, work, and pride over his family. We have also seen this in songs like Take a Break, where he chose to stay in New York to push his financial plan through instead of going on vacation with his family.

The Reynolds Pamphlet performed in the musical Hamilton


So the big question was, did the Reynolds Pamphlet bring more harm than good? This can be debated both ways: Hamilton had successfully removed all suspicions of corruption that the opposition and public had believed in, but also ruined his moral image. It should be noted that, while this was a big deal back then, if we put the Reynolds Pamphlet in the context of his entire life, his achievements and contributions to America far outweigh the damage the Reynolds Pamphlet has done to his image.


I also recommend you to watch the Reynolds Pamphlet scene in the actual musical as it's easily one of the most humorous songs in the whole musical: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_MQRNkRaUE&ab_channel=AsakiTakaya


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