How Did Jefferson And Hamilton Influence The Bill Of Rights

Thomas Jefferson had a better policy regarding the role of government because he wanted people to be the main source of power. Jefferson favored a limited national government and wanted local and state governments to have more power. He also had a strict interpretation of the Constitution. Jefferson believed that people should follow exactly what was stated and allowed in the document. Thomas Jefferson believed that states should have more power than the federal government.

There are also many other reasons a faction may exist, as long as there is a common idea among a group of people there will be a faction. He believes in order to limit factions you must do it in one of two ways; by removing the cause or controlling the effect. Madison explains the only way to remove the cause is to take away liberties or have everyone think the same way, both of which are more dangerous than the faction themselves. Because removing the cause won’t work the only

In George Washington’s Farewell Address (1796), the departing president warned that the creation of political factions, would most certainly lead to “formal and permanent despotism” for the United States, of which he was clearly right. Despite Washington’s words of warning, two of his closest advisors, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, helped to form the factions that led to the dual party system under which the U.S. operates today. Hamilton and Jefferson came to represent the divisions that shaped the early national political landscape, for they had polar opposite views on how the Constitution of the United States should allow, and support, their vision of how the government should be run. Jefferson took a strong position against the creation of a large, central federal government that got itself involved in domestic affairs. According to Jefferson, the role of government should be small and more direct to local citizens, in order to keep the new republic from returning to a tyrannical monarchy.

When comparing the viewpoints of Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, the views of Jefferson tend to be more favorable than that of Hamilton. One can say Jefferson prevailed Hamilton because of his theories that are relative to the poor, as Hamilton’s views were supported by the wealthy. Jefferson’s beliefs were mainly supported by the working class such as small farmers and shopkeepers, as Hamilton’s supporters were wealthy farmers and merchants. The reason why one would favor Jefferson’s beliefs rather than Hamilton’s is because Jefferson’s theories were socially constructed well. Jefferson’s belief was that he “Had deep faith in the common people” and “Believed that individual liberties must be protected.”

(1).” This group did not the Constitution did not properly state the rights and powers of the three branches of government, states’ rights, etc. In order to please the Anti-federalists, the Preamble was put into place to allow American citizens know the central government’s rights, and states’ rights. Lecture 15 “Questions to Consider #1”: In what ways does the modern American economy resemble the plan set out in Hamilton’s three great reports?

Alexander Hamilton viewed human nature as people being individually selfish in their own way. On the other hand Thomas Jefferson believed human nature as trustworthy, he had great faith in the goodness and wisdom of people who worked the soil, like himself. Furthermore the founding fathers also contradicted the power of citizens. Jefferson believed that every American should have the right to prevent the government from infringing on the liberties of its citizens. Hamilton wanted the federal government to have greater power than state governments.

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.

At the core of each of the different arguments of the Constitution is the issue of human nature and how it relates to government. In his objection, Richard Henry Lee points out that human nature is the reason the Constitution is ineffective in securing liberties because too much power is given to too few and this majority can be abused. However, James Madison states that people cannot be left to completely govern themselves, because ultimately human nature causes discord and chaos and there must be a system in place that correctly checks the destructive results of the human nature. In his argument for the Constitution, Madison looks at both sides of the dispute giving greater credibility to his conclusion.

Madison addresses the concerns of the Federalist by first defining factions. “By a faction, I understand a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or a minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adversed to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community.” (Madison). Then he suggests that the only two ways to deal with the problem are to either eliminate factions by removing their causes or limit their impact by controlling their effects. From this portion of the essay, my understanding is that since people have their own self-interests and these self-interests clash with others, the government needs to be able to pass laws for the common good of all instead of any one specific group.

Now the Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments of the constitution. On the Reading Revolutions website, it is stated that the Massachusetts Constitution inspired some of the American Constitution. This proves once again how John Adams writing influenced the course of how the country was run. After many hours of working towards compromise, the men of the Constitutional Congress finally agreed.

In the case of taxation, the more powerful of the two parties would have the opportunity to impose higher taxes on the minority, thus, saving themselves money. Madison firmly believed that the constitution had the ability to solve the problems created by factions. Madison envisioned a large republic that would make it difficult for corrupt candidates to get elected. Madison expressed this by stating, In the next place, as each representative will be chosen by a greater number of citizens in the large than in the small republic, it will be more difficult for unworthy candidates to practice with success the vicious arts by which elections are too often carried; and the suffrages of the people being more free, will be more likely to centre in men who possess the most attractive merit and the most diffusive and established characters.

In the early history of United States government, the Federalist ideals were formed to give strength to the weak Federal government. President Jefferson the third president had different idea he wanted to limit the federal government powers. He also established the Jeffersonian Democracy which Schultz (2016) states it as presenting Jefferson ideal view of popular opinion through newspaper editorialist who centered the yeoman farmers at their political ideology which was the infrastructure of the Democratic-Republican views. President Jefferson as well wanted to develop a court system. Federalist at this time had the power and President Jefferson developed a Judicial Review this gave the court the power to declare an act of congress unconstitutional

Thomas Jefferson’s works and ideas laid the foundation for several key aspects on the limits of the United States government, the idea of separation of church and state, and the importance of personal rights. Jefferson wrote many influential pieces of literature which pushed the concept of having limited government power. Jefferson wanted America not to be like the European monarchies that fell due to religious strife, so he emphasized a secular government. Jefferson, following closely with the ideas of John Locke, stressed the importance of the protection of individual rights against the government. Thomas Jefferson believed that a government should have limitations.

In this document, Jefferson declared the need to separate from the British Empire and voiced the opinion of many Americans views about our rights as humans. Additionally, Jefferson believes that God created every man with rights no one can take away, the right to live, the right to freedom, and the right the pursue happiness. Jefferson goes on to argue, that we the people have rights that cannot be taken away and it is the right of the people to abolish such a government, which tries to take away our God given rights. In support of Thomas Jefferson, the ideal government should be designed and ran for the people, and judged by how effectively it secures the rights of the people while promoting happiness and equality. The government is the only foundation that can make our rights of justice, liberty, and equality, become reality.

1.) What does Madison mean by the term “Faction”? What is a modern term we would use today? Madison uses the term faction to refer to groups of individuals arguing not for the rights or good of the community as a whole, but rather that which would benefit those who hold similar positions or interests. Different factions represent different ideas, leading to conflict and debate.