Differences Between Jefferson And Alexander Hamilton

Although the two historical figures were a member of President Washington’s cabinet, they did not always see eye to eye. Hamilton favored a strong relation to Great Britain after the declaration of independent, and was accused by Jefferson of being a monarchist, who favored oppressive and abusive style of government. On the other hand, Hamilton accused Jefferson of being an anarchist, because of his strong support of France, who by the time was in a revolution war in an effort to overthrow their king, so on that note, he perceive Jefferson as an individual who would disrupt a functioning government and accuse him of not wanting any type of governing

Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson were key Founding Fathers of America who contributed to its freedom and independence. Both men were influential leaders of their time whose visions for the future of the country were clearly contrasting. Hamilton believed for a strong federal government and an economy based on banking. While Jefferson desired for a nation to be controlled by the states and its people. Their competing visions for the United States are still in debate until this day. Although Jefferson’s ideas were significant to America, many of Hamilton’s philosophy still holds in today’s government.

Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson represent the polarizing ends of the political spectrum in the early days of the United States government. Traditionally, Hamilton has been viewed as being in favor of a strong central government and a loose interpretation and application of the United States Constitution while Jefferson favored a weak central government and a strict interpretation of the Constitution (Foner, 2008).

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.

Alexander Hamilton was one of the most influential figures to shape American finances. He made his contribution through the The Hamiltonian Economic Program. The goal of his plan is to improve the American economy through three steps. The first is to pay off the nation’s national debt in order for states to focus on business. This way maximum profit can be achieved. The second step is to place tariffs on imported goods to gain money. Lastly is to create a national bank in order to regulate money flow and currency. However, Thomas Jefferson strongly disagreed with Alexander Hamilton’s views which was evidently seen in the political parties, the Democratic Republicans and the Federalists. One of the main differences between the two is regarding the type of government America would have. Hamilton favored a strong federal government while Jefferson favored a small local government.

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.

In the history of America, Thomas Jefferson, the Secretary of State, and Hamilton, the Secretary of the Treasury, were two of the greatest leaders of our country. Although they both lead the country, that's where the similarities end as they had opposing views on everything. Jefferson was a republican while Hamilton was a federalist. Jefferson had been opposed to all of Hamilton's ideas, such as his financial plan, his interpretation of the powers of the government, his foreign policy, and his vision for the future of America. Jefferson was against Hamilton's views because his financial plan would ultimately destroy democracy in America, his interpretation of the powers of

Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton were very different in their methods to try and develop America as a nation. The two were very much alike because they both were avid Americans, and wanted to see the nation succeed. Both men were very involved in the U.S. Government and tried to voice their opinions on

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

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.

First off, Jefferson was challenged with many circumstances during his presidency that required him to go against his strict constructionist beliefs. Some of these included the Louisiana Purchase and the british impressment of US

     Hamilton and Jefferson had very different opinions. This undoubtedly caused them to debate heavily during the times they served this position in the government. However, it also gave Washington a wide range of ideas coming from his closest advisors.

Men like Daniel favored the Jeffersonian Republicans because they hated how Hamilton, the leader of the Federalists, wanted and suggested laws that did not help the common people. The Federalists wanted policies appealed to the merchants, wealthy and educated, and city folk. In other words, the Federalists wanted the wealthy to become even wealthier while the poor went bankrupt. In addition, the Federalist supported a National Bank, excise taxes, and high tariffs. For example, Hamilton suggested on taxing whiskey, which was majorly consumed by the poor because it was cheap, while beverages consumed by the wealthy such as, wine and port, were not included.

Jefferson had deep faith in the common people. Jefferson had a good point of view on many things that were better than Hamilton. Jefferson and Hamilton had two very different opinions on government. In my own opinion i feel that jefferson had the better points of view in most things that had to do with government. These things ( most importantly ) being economics, the structure of government, and who should govern.

Jefferson and Hamilton both wanted to make the United States of America the best place it could be. They both were very smart men with very different points of view. Jefferson wanted a less powerful federal government and more states’ rights, where Hamilton was pro large federal government. Jefferson was opposed to Hamilton's national bank idea on constitutional rights. They also disagreed on who should run the government, Jefferson believed that the people should and Hamilton believed that only the best of the best should be in charge.