Paper Topic:

US History

Hamilton and Jefferson : Their Political , Social , and Economic Views

Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson both served as members of President George Washington 's cabinet , Hamilton as Secretary of Treasury and Jefferson as Secretary of State , but they held radically opposing views on most issues . The two men could not stand each other criticizing each other 's views on national newss . Jefferson denounced Hamilton as aristocratic while Hamilton called Jefferson a hypocrite . The first major clash between Jefferson and Hamilton was over the establishment of a national bank which Jefferson fiercely opposed

believing that it would only make bond spectators rich and expand the government 's power over the economy . Jefferson saw the establishment of a national bank as a means to usurp the power that belonged to the individual states . Hamilton supported it and won . The two men would soon find themselves taking the opposing sides on almost every national and international issue . This conflict of views between them eventually created factions under the Washington government , representing two opposing ideologies : Hamilton 's Federalist ideology and Jefferson 's Democratic-Republican ideology , with the elite - merchants , lawyers bankers , landowners , and industrialists - supporting the Hamilton faction and the working classes , laborers , and farmers supporting the Jefferson camp . Eventually , the two opposing factions formed the basis of the first political parties in the U .S . But although Jefferson and Hamilton espoused opposing ideas on almost everything , they also had some similarities , economically and socially

On social matters , both Hamilton and Jefferson believed in the abolition of slavery in America . However , Hamilton was an elitist he believed that the government should be in the hands of the rich hence , he did not pay attention to the grassroots . According to him , the rule of the well-educated elite would be best for the nation 's interests . He advocated higher qualifications for voters , believing that the common people are not only incapable of self-government , but also ignorant Jefferson , on the other hand , believed that if the masses were well-informed , they can self-govern . He believed that education is an effective way of establishing an organized society , and advanced the idea of public education . Finally , Hamilton believed in restricting the freedom of the press on some instances , which is contrary to Jefferson 's stance on the matter . Jefferson favored freedom of speech and of the press

On economic policies , Hamilton and Jefferson differed greatly in their views . Hamilton espoused the idea of creating a national bank , and of having the national government pay off war debt , which Jefferson objected . Hamilton favored industry and manufacturing , whereas Jefferson was pro-agrarian . Jefferson contended that the idea of every state endeavoring to manufacture for itself is European , which was being copied without taking into consideration the difference in the circumstance of the two countries which , according to him , would definitely yield different results . Hamilton favored the creation of moderate tariffs , not to discourage imports , but to raise revenue which would , in turn , encourage national manufacturing . He reasoned that tariffs could protect the infant American industry...

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