Okay, where to start I believe that the affair between Hamilton and Maria Reynolds was actually an affair between Maria and Eliza (open for debate if you wanna dm me).

First, the marriage between Alexander and Eliza could be based on a mutual understanding. That could be why Eliza agreed to marry someone with so low comparative social importance (at the time)

Secondly, it would explain why Eliza burned the letters she wrote - because she actually wrote the letters from Maria Reynolds as well. Maria's letters are agreed to have certain inaccuracies, and most people think they were written by either Alexander Hamilton himself (less common belief) or Maria's husband (most common belief). If Eliza wrote them, then it would explain why the letters sound like they are so well-educated.

Third, why Hamilton ACTUALLY confessed. Hamilton confessed to distract people (likely Maria's husband and fellow politicians) from digging deeper. He went into extreme detail unnecessarily in the Reynolds pamphlet. He did this as a red herring, to distract people and for them to assume everything was the way it appeared.

Fourth, This explains why Eliza stayed with Hamilton- they were a team during this, as Hamilton had an understanding that Eliza was going to have emotions for other women. It was part of their marriage agreement.

Fifth, this could explain why Hamilton was historically known to flirt (or perhaps more than that...) with Eliza's sister, Angelica. Angelica knew about Eliza, and potentially her marriage agreement, making her possible betrayal of her sister less evil and more grey.

Sixth, Eliza did not remarry after Hamilton died - for 50 years! The reason she originally married Hamilton was because she needed status, and Hamilton was likely to provide that (which he did). But after Hamilton died, because of her more advanced age and status, she simply had no need to remarry. She could, to an extent, live how she wanted.

Seventh, Maria's involvement with the scandal. It is possible Maria has been historically considered involved in this scandal, perhaps her role was convincing her husband to stay on the "right track", admitting she was Alex's lover, so he didn't dig deeper. She was further involved to make sure he didn't dig deeper as well.

Eighth, not a real important point, but one more probable with this theory than the normally accepted one. Hamilton would be more likely to pay the bribes if he knew two things: He was defending his wife's honour (which affected his status anyway, so it's at least the same motivation, potentially greater in this theory), and he was preventing Mr. Reynolds from finding further proof - because the proof would have been even more controversial.

Finally, one might argue against this theory, saying Eliza wasn't even in town during the timeline of what people think is the Reynolds affair. However, this could be two things: her and Maria did have a relationship, just simply on different historical dates than what the Reynolds pamphlet says. The second theory is that Eliza specifically left town during the time it "went down", after planning this all out - she could have done this for an alibi so she wouldn't be associated with it at all.

Finally (for real this time), the reason why we don't know for sure is simply because of Hamilton's genius. He could, theoretically, be smart enough to pull this off with help from Eliza and Maria.

Okay y'all, lemme hear your thoughts. I have already convinced a few people, and chatgpt, when presented with all the evidence, estimated a 30-40% likelihood of this theory being true (it helped try to break the case, a reason why I have so many points that are important, but don't decrease the likelihood.)

Was divorce a realistic option for her at that time, legally or socially? What would have been the consequences for her livelihood, her social status and the well-being of her children?

Hi! Lately I read a lot about Hamilton and I also read his letters to Laurens and to Eliza. Some websites says that he has married Eliza just because she was rich(and we all know that at first Ham didn't have too much money)and not because of true love. Also in one of his letters to Laurens he says that "she is not a beauty"...etc. : "Have you not heard that I am on the point of becoming a benedict [a newly engaged or married man who had long been a bachelor]? I confess my sins. I am guilty. Next fall completes my doom. I give up my liberty to Miss Schuyler. She is a good hearted girl who I am sure will never play the termagant; though not a genius she has good sense enough to be agreeable, and though not a beauty, she has fine black eyes--is rather handsome and has every other requisite of the exterior to make a lover happy. And believe me, I am lover in earnest, though I do not speak of the perfections of my Mistress in the enthusiasm of Chivalry. Is it true that you are confined to Pensylvania? Cannot you pay us a visit? If you can, hasten to give us a pleasure which we shall relish with the sensibility of the sincerest friendship. Adieu God bless you...." A Hamilton

These things are the reasons why I strated to think about that "Did he really love her?" But as I have said I have read the letters that he has written to Eliza and those letters are full with passion and love.Also the last 2 letters that he wrote to her before the duel.And in his last words he has spoken about Eliza. : https://h2g2.com/edited_entry/A32778570

Maybe at first he wanted to marry her because of money an ambition but then he truly fell in love with her?

So what do you think?

(Sorry if there are grammatical errors)

Okay here me out, Angelica said in "Satisfied" that she was the oldest and that she had to marry rich, but Eliza was the second oldest. Eliza was only twenty-two while Angelica was twenty-four when they met Alexander at the Winters Ball. Angelica could have died meaning that Eliza would have to marry rich. Alexander was poor so why did Eliza get to marry Hamilton while Angelica couldn't of? (If I got any info wrong inform me please). The timeline of the musical and the historical reality are different it confuses me.