Everything has a history, and that's especially true of our political system. From our economy to political parties, Alexander Hamilton helped shape our nation.

However, his journey to the U.S. mainland may have never happened if a hurricane didn't destroy his hometown in the Caribbean.

It's one example of how weather changed our political history.

Hamilton made his way to America after writing a vividly descriptive letter of the damage caused by a hurricane in St. Croix.

"Hamilton made his name as a teenager when what we think was a Category 3 hurricane slammed into St. Croix," said American Historian Sara Georgini, from the Massachusetts Historical Society. "He’s a keen observer of the weather and wind shifts. He mentions that sea spray made the sea taste extra salty."

The letter, meant for his estranged father, found its way into local newspapers instead. Impressed with his articulate retelling of the hurricane's wrath, the people of the island took up a collection to send Hamilton to the mainland U.S. to get a formal education.

"It works well for Alexander Hamilton," says Georgini. "It allows him to continue his education stateside, and he also becomes part of the American federal government. He is an architect of the federal government as it is today." 

While the hurricane arguably became the most consequential event of Hamilton's life, his obsession with weather went far beyond his own experiences. Once he became part of the federal government, he found many other politicians who shared his enthusiasm for meteorology.

"There are many federal governors who are obsessed with the weather," said Georgini. "Thomas Jefferson spends three pounds and change to buy his first thermometer. Him, and John Quincy Adams are obsessed with the weather. They note the weather twice a day, and they’re really interested in weather and how the world worked. That’s the world Hamilton walked into."

While weather fascinated Hamilton, his true passion was politics. Many historians credit him with playing an integral part in creating and growing political parties.

"He helped grow them," said Georgini. "When John Adams becomes president, he makes a key error in keeping Hamilton and other men who are not loyal to him. Hamilton is aware of this, and he’s very good at campaigning. Hamilton embraces it. He’s very good at stirring factions in the Federalist Party."

His political rivals start opposing parties, begin running smear campaigns, and political endorsements become an election staple. 

"Hamilton is, in many ways, a kind of career politician," says Georgini. "He helps to form the politics of the critical election of 1800."

A force of nature brought Hamilton to the mainland, but he became a force in U.S. politics. He built the economic backbone of the country, founded the U.S. Coast Guard, and started the National Bank.

Hamilton also rose to the rank of Captain in the Continental army and became a key voice at the Consitutional Convention where they would later draft the U.S. Constitution.

"Hamilton is really a fascinating figure in our nation’s history," said Georgini. "He’s so critical to shaping how Americans think about politics. We get a lot of that from Hamilton."

Want to learn more about how weather has shaped our political history? 

Check out this story on how a tornado saved our nation's capital during the War of 1812.

Check out this story on whether or not weather killed the ninth president of the U.S.

Check out this story on how a snowstorm in California affected the 1916 election.

Check out this story on how a flood led to Herbert Hoover's ascension to the presidency.