Narrator: It is 1773. Eighteen-year-old Hamilton arrives in an America in turmoil. The British government is attempting to assert authority over its American colonies. Parliament is imposing new taxes on Americans, without their consent.
In New York City, Hamilton has enrolled in King's College, later to become Columbia University.
Most New Yorkers are still loyal to the Crown, but Hamilton is swept up by the revolutionary cause.
Joanne B. Freeman, Historian: He's not in New York for a very long amount of time before he clearly has decided that he understands the anger and the frustration that's going on in the colonies. He empathizes with it, it makes sense to him, and in a very short amount of time he's writing pamphlets.
Narrator: In words, which evoke the brutal plantation society from which he has just escaped, Hamilton urges Americans to rise up against British subjugation.
Alexander Hamilton (as portrayed by actor): Man is either governed by his own laws -- freedom -- or the laws of another -- slavery. Are you willing to become slaves? Will you give up your freedom, your life and your property without a single struggle? No man has a right to rule over his fellow creatures. It is incontestable that Americans are entitled to freedom.
Narrator: A prominent Loyalist clergyman mocks Hamilton's ideas, and the college student counterattacks in a fury.
Carol Berkin, Historian: He always was a person who, when he thought he was right, just said -- you're wrong, I'm right, you're dumb, I'm smart.
Gordon S. Wood, Historian: He has this chip on his shoulder, precisely because of his background, his illegitimacy. He's going to show the world that he's not going to suffer any disrespect from anyone, especially given his talent, which he knows he has -- and he's not hiding it under any bushels either.
Narrator: The British are preparing an assault on New York. Hamilton obtains a commission to form an artillery company with some fellow students. Together with his men, Hamilton seizes cannon and rifles from a British armory.
Richard J. Payne, Historian: He joins the revolution at a very young age. He forms this artillery unit, and by the way, the oldest unit in the American Army today is Hamilton's unit. It's the first battalion, fifth field artillery. The only unit left over from the Revolutionary War.
Narrator: Hamilton is now dividing his time between drilling his troops and pursuing his studies.
One night, a mob gathers outside the gates of King's College. They are looking for Myles Cooper, the pro-British head of the college. A fellow student describes Hamilton's courageous stand that night.
Officer Stephen Colden (as portrayed by actor): Dr. Cooper's a Tory and an obnoxious man. The mob breaks down the gates of the college and is gathering on the steps with tar and feathers, yelling, "prepare for your doom!" Then I see an amazing scene. A student comes out on the stoop, all by himself, and begins arguing with the crowd, telling them they're disgracing the cause of liberty.
Joanne B. Freeman, Historian: I think, for Hamilton, order is the key to liberty. He might say it's one thing to rant about liberty, that's all very nice and very pretty, but the fact of the matter is humankind -- they're not pretty creatures and they don't do reasonable things. So the only way to ensure personal liberty is to ensure order.
Narrator: At the risk of his own life, Hamilton lectures the mob on the importance of an honorable revolution. He keeps them at bay long enough for Cooper to climb over the back fence and escape with his life.
Ron Chernow, Biographer: In many ways, it's the most revealing episode in Hamilton's early life, because to suddenly stand apart from the mob and be willing to defy and criticize your own side took an enormous amount of courage. But Hamilton was always very, very clear about what his principles were. And he was not somebody who was interested in compromising on those principles.