Hamilton vs. Jefferson
Economical Views
Hamilton
1. Believed in a public debt
2. Wanted to create a national bank to provide loans for businessmen, and to provide a place to deposit federal funds.
3. Believed that America should have a strong commercial society with a large industrial sector.
4. Believed that the government should foster business and contribute to the growth of capitalistic enterprise.
5. Favored a protective tariff to aid manufacturers
Jefferson
1. Opposed the National bank saying that it was unconstitutional and wanted to encourage state banks.
2. Felt that no special favors should be given to manufacturers.
3. Preferred an agrarian society with some industrial alternative to agriculture.
4. Felt that the national debt was harmful to society and all debts should be paid off quickly.
Social Views
Hamilton
1. Believed that mostly the wealthy should run society
2. Hamilton was a supporter of the upper class and many taxes like taxes on whiskey harmed the lower to middle class most.
3. Believed that voting qualifications should be high meaning that he did not want any dumbasses voting.
4. Hamiltonians were mostly merchants, bankers, manufacturers, or wealthy farmers.
Jefferson
1. Believed that the "Common" people were capable of running the government
2. Believed that voting qualifications should be lower because common people had a say too.
3. Jefferson supported the lower and middle classes mostly.
4. Jeffersonians were mostly, artisans, shopkeepers, frontier settlers, or owners of small farms.
Political Views
Hamilton
1. Admired the British aristocracy and believed it should be a model for American Gov.
2. Believed in a strong central Gov.
3. Favored a broad interpretation of the constitution to strengthen central Gov. at expense of state rights.
4. Hamiltonians, under certain circumstances, favored restrictions on speech and the press.
5. Believed at the time that America should break official bonds with France and tie itself closely to Britain.
Jefferson
1. Believed in a government more democratic than Britain's.
2. Jefferson wanted to reduce the number of federal office holders.
3. Jefferson favored freedom of the press and speech.
4. Jefferson also had a broad interpretation of the constitution but many times, it was only to favor himself or the situation (the damn hypocrite)
5. Wanted increased states rights and was suspicious of the central Gov. because of probable tyrannical overpowering like England.
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Call it what you want... Triumph of the Hamiltonians Hamilton vs. Jefferson Nationalism vs. Sectionalism Federal vs. State Authority |
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The point is since the creation of this country we have not been able to agree on several issues, and the division was drawn along geographic lines. War was inevitable. The point, then, is why couldn't we resolve the issues? Who really won the war? Is there resolution today?
Below is a series of eight documents beginning with the outright establishment of the United States as a nation under the Constitution and ending with the outbreak of the civil war. Each document is followed by some questions to assist you in processing the content/meaning of the document. As you read, keep in mind who the author of the document is (and their inherent bias) and who the audience is. In order to provide context for the issues, next to the list of documents is a brief timeline of sectional issues contemporary with the documents. Your job is to answer the questions for each document and ultimately decide how each issue/document contributed to growing sectional tension in the United States and what impact each had on the debate over federal vs. state authority. Keep a list of your own content and processing questions as you read. You will be provided texts for finding the answers.
| The Bank of the United States (1791) Hamilton vs. Jefferson Supremacy of the Federal Government (1819) Preservation of the Union (1850) Secession and the Integrity of the Union (1860) |
1791 - Strict vs. Loose Construction Debate 1814 - Hartford Convention 1820 - Missouri Compromise 1828 - Tariff of Abominations 1830 - Maysville Road Veto 1850 - Compromise of 1850 1854 - Kansas-Nebraska Act 1860 - South Carolina secession |