Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton

An comprehensive and insightful look at the differing natures of two of

America’s founding fathers.

Washington’s Administration

Washington’s Cabinet (Secretaries)

Residence Act: the only time Jefferson & Hamilton agreed on

anything…

Differing opinions on human nature:

• Thomas Jefferson held a positive view of human nature. He felt that the innate nature of man is good, and that left to their own devices they would govern themselves fairly.

• Lockean

• Alexander Hamilton, on the other hand, had a very pessimistic view of nature. He thought that man was inherently corrupt and that strong government was necessary to govern the masses.

Alexander Hamilton proposed the idea of an electoral college, where the well-known wealthy

and powerful people would decide on the next leader of the nation. He held that the average

person was incapable to choose their leaders.Aristocracy of merit

Ideas on who should govern:

Thomas Jefferson believed in a direct rule of the ordinary people. He thought that Americans had the mental capacity to choose directly who should lead them.Education was key.Thomas Paine

How much power should the How much power should the central government have?central government have?

• Jefferson wanted to Jefferson wanted to advance democratic advance democratic principles and maintain principles and maintain a weak central a weak central government. He government. He maintained that the maintained that the central government central government should mainly concern should mainly concern itself with maintaining itself with maintaining the states, and the the states, and the states could maintain states could maintain the people.the people.

• Alexander Hamilton Alexander Hamilton pushed for a strong pushed for a strong central government that central government that would interpret the would interpret the Constitution somewhat Constitution somewhat loosely.loosely.

The Basis for the Economy:

• Thomas Jefferson wanted a mainly agricultural economy. America had had the ability to maintain itself since the English settled there.

• Classical Republicanism• Virtue of farmers• (cities were corrupt)

• Alexander Hamilton wanted to dramatically increase the amount of industry in America. He felt that America had the raw materials to support itself and become an industrial superpower. This ended up becoming the economics system used today.

• He had a commercial vision for America

What does it mean to be a What does it mean to be a capitalistic society?capitalistic society?

Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson wanted more of a wanted more of a pure form of pure form of capitalism, capitalism, meaning that the meaning that the people would take people would take more of an active more of an active role in determining role in determining the economic the economic direction of the direction of the nation.nation.

Hamilton wanted Hamilton wanted the government to the government to interfere with the interfere with the market, creating market, creating more of a more of a command command economy and economy and lessening the grip lessening the grip that the people that the people had on the nation’s had on the nation’s wealth.wealth.

Foreign Affairs:Foreign Affairs:

Jefferson strongly Jefferson strongly supported the initiation supported the initiation of friendly diplomatic ties of friendly diplomatic ties with the French. He had with the French. He had witnessed the French witnessed the French revolution and saw the revolution and saw the good that it had done for good that it had done for the people. He the people. He supported an all-out supported an all-out assault on absolute assault on absolute monarchies.monarchies.

Hamilton, on the other Hamilton, on the other hand, wanted closer hand, wanted closer diplomatic ties with the diplomatic ties with the British. He reasoned that British. He reasoned that because England was a because England was a powerful ally to have. In powerful ally to have. In addition, he wanted addition, he wanted America to renew trade America to renew trade with the former enemy.with the former enemy.

Debt/National BankDebt/National Bank

• Thomas Jefferson feared commercial interests. He did not like the idea of a National Debt in which bankers/investors would profit from American citizens.

• Alexander Hamilton wanted a strong banking system/debt to build the nation’s credit abroad. Other nations would be willing to invest in America’s fledgling economy.

• Bank of the United States

Who supported them? The supporters of

Jefferson’s policies were generally farmers, slave owners and people in the South & West

The supporters of Hamilton’s party would have been business/urban dwellers/property owners and others that would have benefited from Hamilton’s policies.

(North Eastern States)