Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton were two of President Washington’s closest advisors and they had exceedingly contrasting views on which direction this nation should go. A few of the things Jefferson and Hamilton had differing views on included the central government, the U.S. economy, and the national bank. In fact, these two people and their different factions helped to lead to the dual party system of America. The faction that Hamilton led was called the Federalists, while Jefferson led the Democratic Republicans. Hamilton and the Federalists believed in having a central government that was fairly strong, and he did not consider the American people to be completely capable of ruling themselves. He also disapproved of state governments
Two of Washington’s Cabinet: Secretary of Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, and Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson. Hamilton and Jefferson were quarreling over everything from having a strong government that would be wealthy, knowledgeable people, or not having a strong government at all. They had argued on the payments of national and state debts, a tariff on imported goods, manufacturing or farming, a national bank, interpretation of the Constitution, Whiskey Tax and the Whiskey Rebellion, and the whether the Support on the French Revolution. Some believe because of Jefferson and Hamilton’s differences is why that Washington had picked them both to advise him. Jefferson and Hamilton had argued over the government.
After the constitution was ratified by all 13 states. The pillars of the United States were laid bare, from this point on was up to Washington and his cabinet to not only lead the way, but also to make sure the nation would succeed. However, two prominent figures of Washington’s cabinet had a very different vision as to how the nation would get there; one was his Secretary of State – Jefferson, who was pretty opposed to the vision of the other cabinet member – Alexander Hamilton, who was the Secretary of Treasury. One of these disagreements is presented in the Major Problems reader, chapter 3, article 2 “Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton Debate the Constitutionality of the National Bank, 1971” where the article 1 section 8, and the 10th
Washington said that we must avoid forming political parties because it would separate our country. We ignored him then, but look at where we are now, boy was he right. Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson were two people of separate political parties who disagreed on almost every matter. Hamilton used to be poor and grew up in St.Croix. When he was sent to the mainland he became the loud mouthed Secretary of Treasury under Washington’s leadership.
They both contributed to the bringing up of today’s nation. However, they had different opinions and different ideas. Hamilton was way more involved in the structuring of the constitution and settling up the government than Jefferson. Even though he supported a strong executive, he understood the value of the balance of power. It should be taken into consideration that Jefferson was a slave holder and promoted that freed slaves should leave the country because they wouldn’t fit into our society.
In 1789, George Washington was elected as the first president of the new American republic. He selected several people to serve in his cabinet, among which were Alexander Hamilton, an ambitious young immigrant, and Thomas Jefferson, a wealthy plantation owner. Hamilton and Jefferson argued endlessly over various issues, and decisions about these issues contributed greatly to the shaping of our nation. Many of their beliefs have influenced our country to this day, especially their varying perspectives on the Constitution. Hamilton’s belief that the Constitution should be interpreted loosely had a greater effect on the early republic than the strict constructionist view that Jefferson held.
Hamilton was a loyalist and wanted to maintain good relations with the mother country- England. However, Jefferson felt that it was America's duty to help France. Jefferson wanted farming to be the backbone of America, but Hamilton wanted
The difference between the two were Hamilton’s vision was about manufacturing, banking, and unification and Jefferson’s idea was on farming and individuality of the states and the people. Hamilton’s was right that its was important for the U.S. economy to have a national banking systems, we have this today. Jefferson thought that we would not have any need for a national banking systems. Our country went more in favor in Hamilton,
Merrill described in The Anticapitalist Origins of the United States, “ Hamilton as the champion of a new liberal society based on equality of opportunity and Jefferson as a defender of a tradition-bound, hierarchical order”. This quote from Merrill’s research demonstrated what some historians depicted Hamilton and Jefferson as. Hamilton was an elite who took laws from the British empire and shaped them into the American legislature. Alexander kept the spirit of America intact while also producing an economic surplus and building a strong military. Jefferson led with agrarian ideologies, like limiting trade with foreign powers but establishing trade networks within the United States.
Jefferson's democratic-republican party views are always contradictory to the Federalist party founded by Alexander Hamilton. Jefferson believes in small federal government and more powers to individual states, his policies are around people and they should rule the government. Jefferson always follows strict constitutional rules. Jefferson always believed the country economy will improve through the agriculture. Hamilton views are very contrasted to Jefferson's view.
Jefferson presented his golden points about the rights of states and how a republic would keep the fire of personal liberty and virtue alive. He favored strong state and local government with the dream of farmers being able to control their fate. He also believed a centralized government would just result in another in a problem similar to the one America had with Great Britain. Meanwhile, Hamilton just rambled on about having a strong, powerful federal government that would give the people more opportunities.
Political parties, Democratic Republicans and Federalists, started in the U.S. because of differing views of Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, and the influence of newspapers. Jefferson’s and Hamilton’s different ways of thinking(mostly on issues that was beneficial for the country) played a huge part in the start of political parties. They fought about economy. Jefferson liked farming while Hamilton preferred manufacturing and trade. Interpretation of the Constitution was another thing they fought upon.
To the contrary, Hamilton believed that all the power should go to the federal government. Today in all elections, we have democratic beliefs and republican beliefs. It is discussed in (Document 4 ) that George Washington opposed the idea of different political parties because he thought two views would agitate the community, stir up riots, and start rebellions in our states. Therefore, Washington did not support the idea of two separate political beliefs. However, his beliefs were not accepted and instead different political parties were implemented and still exist today.
As a Federalist he believed the central government should hold the most power and influence over everything else. He thought the people themselves favored a government where the power was directly out of their control. He became critical of the other national delegates’ plan for ratification stating that it was more of the same as the Articles of Confederation (Lack et al, 1987.) Hamilton thought the people’s role in government to be that of a liability. He stated that the people were constantly changing in their attitudes and dispositions, and could not be trusted to make a sound judgement or do what was right for the nation.
Alexander Hamilton was a Federalist who believed in his loose Constructionist views, a support for manufacturing and trade, and a strong national government. Thomas Jefferson, a Democratic-Republican, believed in his strict Constructionist views, a support in agriculture, and a strong state government. These two both played impacts on the Early Republic. However, Hamilton’s views on the Constitution, the central government, and an ideal economy greatly influenced the formation of the United States in the Early Republic times. Hamilton’s loose constructionist ideas overrode Jefferson’s strict constructionist views, as seen in the National Bank.
When it comes to Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton the main difference between the two was their political party. The basis of each of their political parties set the boundaries for their beliefs and their views as politicians. Both men were founding fathers of our country, and made a huge impact on history as we know it. Without these men, our country's government might not be what it is today. One of the only similarities of Jefferson and Hamilton was their want to diminish national debt.