Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson were two different people with two very different views and opinions. Jefferson thought everything Hamilton tried doing to put America on a path of greatness, was a step onto a road to ruin. One of the big, controversial issues they disagreed on was the economy; the dispute was over whether manufacturing or agriculture should be the main source to increase the nation’s revenue. Economy is very important to a nation’s success, so both men felt very strongly on this topic. The Federalist, who’s most influential leader was Alexander Hamilton, believed in expanding the economy’s income from just agriculture to manufacturing, trade, and business. First, Hamilton’s plan was to start by paying off the debts …show more content…
If a national bank was approved and built, one of its jobs would be to print money which would give the nation unity by providing everyone with the same form of currency. Alexander Hamilton stated, “Industry is increased, commodities are multiplied, agriculture and manufactures flourish: and herein consists the true wealth and prosperity of a state.” This meaning, if a national bank was put into place, almost every aspect of the country would be more prosperous. Lastly, the national bank would provide citizens with loans to establish new factories and build ships, which would assist the economy’s income, and would begin a continuous cycle. The big question was, “Does Congress have the power to establish a national bank?” Hamilton’s view was that Congress did have the power to approve a national bank under the Elastic Clause. The Elastic Clause states, “Congress has the power to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or any Department or Officer thereof.” Hamilton’s dream for America was for the bank to help the economy grow and prosper, his dream became a reality in 1791, when Congress authorized Hamilton’s proposal of a national …show more content…
Jefferson and Hamilton had completely different views on nearly every issue. Thomas Jefferson thought everything Alexander Hamilton was doing as an attempt to put America on a path to greatness was putting America on a road to ruin. Jefferson believed America’s future was in plain, Republican farmer’s hands. Jefferson said, “Those who labor in the earth, are the chosen people of God, if He had chosen people.” This means he favored an economy built off of agriculture. Jefferson and his party opposed the idea of a national bank because it would subsequently promote growth in business and manufacturing, not agriculture and farming, as he wanted. The Republicans saw the national bank as unconstitutional. They thought this because they inferred that they would be willing to give loans to business people to build ships and factories, but not farmers to purchase
And, if the National Bank was ever to go into debt after paying off the U.S’s debt then taxes/prices would go up. Which they were legally able to do under the Constitution. As mentioned above rules for this bank were not set and are strict so things like this were legally able to take place. Jefferson angrily said “The power to create corporations had to be explicitly authorized and was not something that could be created by “implication” from the text of the Constitution (Bill of Rights Institute).” Financial corruption as Jefferson implied would only not benefit the people in the U.S.
Jefferson vs Hamilton’s Inspiration and Beliefs The Federalist ideas of Alexander Hamilton influenced the future Democratic Republic government, created by Thomas Jeffferson as president, by finding the money management used by America and the beliefs behind negotiation and centralized government. During the late 1700s, Hamilton became the secretary of state and created the plan to bring America out of its debt. As a federalist, many of his ideals included the elastic, or necessary and proper, clause and giving more power to the government, as this affected his plans of taxation, banking, and constitutionality in certain decisions made by the government. These Hamilton inspired ideas changed America’s perspective on nationalism and power of
The need for a national bank was very much so necessary. Hamilton also convinced president Washington to sign the bank bill by his lengthy report that stated: “This criterion is the end, to which the measure relates as a mean. If the end be clearly comprehended withan any specified powers, collecting taxes and regulating the currency, and if the measure have an obvious relation to that end, and is not forbidden by any particular provision of the constitution, it may safely be deemed to come with the compass of national authority.”
Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson were complete opposites on the political spectrum, it only makes sense that the two were constantly at odds. Jefferson opposed nearly every viewpoint that Hamilton had. Whether it was on economics, how people who were delegated, foreign policy, and their parties themselves they were contrary to each other. Jefferson, “Distrusted special privilege” (Jefferson), on the other hand Hamilton, “Thought that the rich, educated and wellborn were the people who should rule” (Hamilton). Jefferson believed that no one should more power than anyone else based on class, Hamilton wanted the upperclass to run the government.
The creation of the first bank in the United States prompted a political debate which started in 1791, and went on in the following years. Hamilton’s plan foresaw a bank provided with special powers and privileges, which gave birth to a wide opposition. Although Hamilton 's idea continues to exist in today’s economic environment, at that time his proposal was met with widespread resistance from individuals such as James Madison and Thomas Jefferson, who considered the creation of a federal bank as unconstitutional. Following to a broad interpretation of the Constitution, Hamilton argued that in order to have an effective bank, Congress should be provided with all the powers required. Jefferson disagreed with Hamilton, and claimed that the establishment of such a bank was not consistent with the powers that the Constitution granted to Congress.
Jefferson v. Hamilton There are many conflicts in the early years of the American politics. There are two famous political parties during the early years of American Independence, and their ideologies were completely opposite. Thomas Jefferson was the third American President from 1801-1809. Alexander Hamilton was the founder of Federalist party and President Washington elected him as a first secretary of the treasurer.
While Jefferson was a farmer with a strong work ethic and believed in equality for the common man. Hamilton, however, was not as understanding toward average Americans. He thought that leadership in government should be left to the wealthy and powerful. Hamilton knew that in order to ensure the new government would be successful, they needed to make the wealthier citizens feel like they had an interest in the country’s prosperity. This is where his financial system came into play.
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.
Both men have made very significant accomplishments during their lifetime. Jefferson became the Vice President of the United States. This position caused problems because the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches were in favor of the Democratic party and Jefferson was in favor of the Republican party. Therefore, it was difficult for Jefferson to obtain support because everyone disagreed with his views and ideas. If Jefferson and Hamilton did not disagree, the United States could run more
Hamilton believed in the need for banks. Alexander Hamilton states, “Power without revenue is only a name. ”(ushistory.org). When he says “revenue”, this means that without a place to keep the money stored, it is only a name. The bank would give and loan money to the government when needed.
He successfully argued for the assumption of state debts by the federal government and the establishment of the first national bank – a private, but partially government-owned institution. He firmly established the principles of financial trading. Due to his efforts, the creditworthiness of the United States was restored. Hamilton’s accomplishments as Treasury Secretary were not achieved without a struggle. His congressional opponents tried to exhaust him by demanding detailed reports on the workings of the treasury department with incredibly short delivery dates.
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.
Thomas Jefferson during the 1790’s-1800’s while working with federalists Alexander Hamilton, his viewpoints were different. During the 1790’s Jefferson was known to be in the democratic-republican party where he progresses an ideal structure of equivalencies between money and weight standards with the American/Spanish currency. Jefferson took charge of the republicans after a conflict created two parties, republican-democratic and the federalist, who empathized with the revolutionary cause in France. While attacking the federalist policies, Jefferson opposed a strong centralized government and granted the rights of states. While Jefferson was in presidency, he cut down on the Army and Navy expenditures, cut the U.S. budget, eliminated the tax
Hamilton wanted to create public credit with a treasury system, a national bank, a mint, and increase manufacturing which would help unify the country. On the other hand, there was Jefferson, who opposed a strong central government. He argued that the “wealthy would gain at the expense of ordinary Americans and that Hamilton’s political economy would corrupt the morality of citizens and undermine the social conditions essential to republican government”(Powerpoint). The country would opt for an approach closer to Hamilton’s views. One of the first acts was the National Banking Act.