The Differences Of Alexander Hamilton And Thomas Jefferson's Political Beliefs

Two of the greatest American Political figures during the revolutionary era of the U.S were Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson. Despite being such icons and both being revered by historians today, they were actually rivals. This could have been due to the conditions they were born and raised into, the same conditions that would shape their political outlooks as well. To see how their life developed how and why they became such iconic political figures, we must analyze both Hamilton’s and Jefferson’s lives up to the point whence their careers turned to politics.

Alexander Hamilton wanted a national government that had complete political authority. Although Hamilton did not like state governments and wanted them to be eliminated, he knew it was not possible. Therefore, he proposed the idea of having the central government to have the most power, but allow the states to control many of their own rights and individuality. In collaboration with James Madison and John Jay, Hamilton wrote 51 essays out of 85 essays called “The Federalist Papers”. These essays explained and defended the new Constitution prior to its approval and with his effort, nine states agreed to ratify the Constitution. Alexander Hamilton led the Federalist Party, who believed in a centralized national government with strong economic roots, unlike Thomas Jefferson, who wanted a limited government. Hamilton also proposed to

When Washington retired from his presidency, non-stop issues arose between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson about government policies, economic policies, and foreign policies that led to the creation of political parties. The First Party System started in 1790s and ended in early 1800s. The Federalist Party led by Hamilton and John Adams and the Democratic-Republican Party led by Jefferson and James Madison. Hamilton and Jefferson had different political views, but both wanted what was best for the country.

Conflicting views and contrasting ideologies have always existed throughout the history of United States politics. Alexander Hamilton, who led Federalist Party, believed that a powerful central government was necessary while Thomas Jefferson, who led the Jeffersonian Republican Party, favored an agrarian nation with most of the power left to the states. Although Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson were similar in that they both harbored good intentions and tried to keep the best interests in mind for the future of the United States, their policies were drastically different. Without doubt, both of their contrasting ideas served a vital role in forming the government.

Two competing political philosophies have always existed throughout the United States’ relatively short history: one seeking to increase the power of the central government, and one seeking to decrease it. During the 1800s these two conflicting philosophies were acted out by the Federalist and the Democratic Republican parties, respectively. The Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, advocated the importance of a strong central government in leading the country forward, while the Democratic Republicans, led by Thomas Jefferson, promoted increasing the common man’s role in government. Although both political parties had good intentions for the future of the United States, the Federalist Party was much more effective at uniting the American

The two different visions of assembly of Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton conveyed understandings of American power and the American people. For Hamilton, America's quality lay in the business industry. His America was one of delegates, specialists, speculators and banks. His party anticipated those would help these people battle in an overall business focus. Hamilton was suspicious of state governments, obliged as they were to slim neighborhood interests.

Hamilton expressed dissatisfaction with both of the plans brought forward to the convention. The Virginia plan, which was a proposal to completely abandon the Articles of Confederation, and replace it with a bicameral national legislature, an executive branch selected by the legislature, a judiciary, and a council of revision with the power veto, and the New Jersey plan, which suggested to keep the Articles of Confederation, but revise it to give Congress the power to tax, regulate commerce, and choose plural executive and members of a supreme court. Hamilton felt both these plans lacked a strong central government. He was specifically displeased with the New Jersey plan “being fully convinced” Madison writes “that no amendment of the Confederation, leaving the States in possession of their Sovereignty could possibly answer the purpose.” pg 18-19. He feared that either of these plans would leave the newly founded country weakened and “…would ultimately destroy the confederation…” pg 20. Finally, though Hamilton would given the federal government more power, he supported what was to be and is now the Constitution of the United States of America and he became one of its leading supporters during the ratification process. Though Jefferson was unable to join the convention due to his duties in France as

Whose side would you have been on in the 1790s, Thomas Jefferson’s or Alexander Hamilton’s? Both of these men served under George Washington in the first presidential cabinet, yet they had very different views of what government should be (Davis 86). My objective in this research essay is to inform the reader of why there was so much controversy between these two founding fathers, and to determine which side had the better views for our newly forming country.

Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton were completely at odds in their vision on how America was to develop. Hamilton wanted to concentrate power in a centralized federal government with limited access and Jefferson wished to diffuse it among all the eligible freemen of the time. Alexander Hamilton feared anarchy and distrusted popular rule while Jefferson feared tyranny and thought in terms of liberty and freedom.

Though both Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson served as members of President Washington’s cabinet, the two held very different views on the newly founded U.S. government, interpretation of its constitution, and the role of the “masses” in that government. These conflicting views would develop in two political parties, the Federalists led by Hamilton and the Democratic-Republicans led by Jefferson. Although both political parties presented enticing aspects, Hamilton’s views were much more reasonable and fruitful when compared Jefferson’s views; idealistic and too strict in reference to the constitution.

“The framers of the constitution envisioned a one-party state in which partisan distinctions would be muted by patriotism and public virtue.” (Faragher, et. al, page 211) However, even in our early days of nationhood, different factions of beliefs would ensue. As Founding Fathers of our nation, both Hamilton and Madison played large roles in the evolution of political parties and many of the foundations of these parties still remain today.

Developing a country and its principals comes with many debates, arguments, and many decisions to be made. In the end of the eighteenth century the Founding Fathers of the newly established America dealt with the difficulties of creating a country with strong political, social, and economic power. With the writing of the Articles of Confederation the country had now developed a national government, but was weak and ineffective. The top leaders of the country knew the flaws of the Articles and gathered together to rewrite the draft. When these decisions makers met in Philadelphia for the Convention the Constitution of the United States was written. This Constitution developed the foundation of the American governmental system. Along with

Due to the rivalry among Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson who was against all attempts that were being made by Alexander Hamilton, to strengthen the federal government through National Commerce, the America’s first parties was created (Patterson, 2013, p. 191). However, the evolution of the political parties began when Alexander Hamilton came up with ideas that he felt would advance his party by organizing followers to participate in the Federalist Party (Patterson, 2013, p. 191). Hamilton acquired the name from the party which organized the ratification of the U.S. Constitution (Patterson, 2013, p. 191). Nonetheless, Thomas Jefferson reacted to Hamilton by creating the Democratic-Republican Party (Patterson, 2013, p. 191). Also, in

The political standings of Hamilton and Jefferson were the foundation and beginning of their lifelong arguments and disagreements. Hamilton was the leader

As American poet Mattie Stepanek once said, “Unity is strength… when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.” Through this quote, Stepanek implies that with the use of partnership and unity, anything can be accomplished, despite any obstacles. In a similar way, this concept of unity in the face of conflict is expressed through relations shown in United States history, particularly those of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. At times, these former presidents of the United States expressed completely different standpoints on government, leading to an incredibly turbulent relationship. However, in the end their friendship prevailed, which greatly molded the future U.S. government. Due to the rocky relations shown between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the political practices shown throughout the United States were forever impacted.