Those essays were later called the Federalist
papers.
In 1789 GeorgeWashington, now U.S.
president, made Hamilton secretary of
the treasury. Hamilton planned for a tax
system and a national bank. His financial
program strengthened the national
government.
Thomas Jefferson, the secretary of state,
disagreed with Hamilton. He believed
that the states should have more power.
The two men and their supporters
started the first U.S. political parties.
Hamilton led the Federalist Party, while
Jefferson led the Republican Party.
Retirement
Hamilton resigned as secretary of the
treasury in 1795. He stayed active in
politics, however. Hamilton got involved
in the presidential election of 1800. Jefferson
and Aaron Burr were two of the
main candidates. Hamilton and Burr
did not like each other. Hamilton set
aside his quarrel with Jefferson and
helped him get elected.
In 1804 Hamilton supported Burr’s
opponent in the election for governor of
New York. Angered once again, Burr
challenged Hamilton to a duel. Burr
shot Hamilton on July 11, 1804.
Hamilton died the next day.
#More to explore
Federalist Papers • Jefferson, Thomas
• United States Government
Hamster
Hamsters are small mammals that
belong to the rodent family. Like mice,
squirrels, beavers, and other rodents,
they have large front teeth that they use
for gnawing and nibbling. Hamsters are
among the few animals born with developed
teeth.
In the wild, hamsters live in dry areas in
central Europe, the Middle East, and
Asia. For shelter, hamsters dig burrows,
or underground tunnel systems. They
use these burrows for sleeping and for
storing food.
Today many people in every part of the
world keep hamsters as pets. The most
common species, or type, of hamster
kept as a pet is the golden hamster.
Golden hamsters originally came from
Syria.
Hamsters have a plump body and a
short tail. Golden hamsters have yellowish
or reddish brown fur and white bel-
Golden hamsters are popular pets. People
often keep them in small cages.
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Hamster 11
lies. Other types of hamster have gray or
black fur. Most adult hamsters weigh
about 5 ounces (150 grams). They have
poor eyesight but good senses of smell
and hearing. Hamsters have large
pouches in their cheeks to carry food.
Hamsters are nocturnal, or active at
night. They sleep during the day. Hamsters
eat almost anything, especially
seeds and grains.
Most hamsters live for about three years.
They begin having babies at about 2
months old. Female hamsters may have
a new litter of babies every month. A
litter may have one to 13 babies.
#More to explore
Pet • Rodent
Hand
The hand is a part of the body that
extends from the end of each arm.
Hands are a feature of most primates,
including humans, apes, and monkeys.
The hand has a flat, wide palm. It also
has five parts called digits—a thumb and
four fingers. Bones and muscles inside
the hand allow the digits to move in
many useful ways.
Structure
The human hand contains 27 main
bones. Each finger has three bones. The
thumb has two. The palm of the hand
has five bones. The wrist, which attaches
the hand to the arm, has eight bones.
There are also some small bones near the
base of the digits.
The four fingers extend upward from
the palm. The thumb extends from the
side of the palm. The tip of each digit
has a nail. Each digit also has a unique
pattern of ridges called a fingerprint.
Different muscles control the movement
of each digit. All five digits can fold
inward. The thumb can move to a position
opposite the fingers. This so-called
opposable thumb is the mark of a true
hand. Animals with paws do not have
opposable thumbs.
Function
Hands can push, pull, pat, scoop, and
carry. They can wave, point, and make
Because
human fingerprints
are
unique to each
person, they
are used for
identification.
The hand of a human and the hand of a
gorilla are similar in shape. However, a
gorilla’s hand is much larger and is also
used for walking.
12 Hand BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
many other gestures, or signs.With the
opposable thumb, a hand can pick up
small objects and handle tools.
Hands are also important for their sense
of touch. They are very sensitive to different
textures and temperatures. Their
creases and ridges help them to feel and
to hold things.
Hands in Apes and Monkeys
Like humans, apes and monkeys have
opposable thumbs. They use their hands
to pick things up, gather food, and
groom each other. Many apes and monkeys
also use their hands for climbing
and swinging. In some species, or types,
the fingers are extra long. These long
fingers help them to grip tree branches.
#More to explore
Arm • Nail and Claw • Primate
Hanoi
Population
(2004 estimate)
1,420,400
Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam, a country
of Southeast Asia. It is a large city
located on the Red River. The city is
unusual in that it has many lakes.
Modern Hanoi is a mix of new and historical
buildings. One important structure
is the tomb of Ho Chi Minh. Ho
was a powerful Vietnamese leader.
Factories in Hanoi make food products,
electrical machinery, cloth, and other
goods. The city’s economy also depends
on tourism and other services.
