6.1: Jefferson vs. Hamilton

Cabinet Position under Pres. Washington Hamilton Secretary of the Treasury Jefferson Secretary of State

On Who Should Govern Hamilton Jefferson believed common people often acted foolishly rich, educated and wellborn should rule Jefferson deep faith in common people especially farmers distrusted special privilege

On the Structure of Gov’t Hamilton favored strong central gov’t gov’t should be modeled on British system Jefferson favored a weak central gov’t strong state gov’t more democratic gov’t

Interpretation of Constitution Hamilton Loose Interpretation If the Constitution DOES NOT SAY federal gov’t can’t do something than it MUST BE ABLE TO DO IT federal gov’t more power Jefferson Strict interpretation If the Constitution DOESN NOT SAY the federal govt. can do something than it SOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO IT power away from the federal gov’t

Interpretation of Constitution Hamilton Article I: “necessary and proper” clause  “Congress shall have Power [...] to MAKE ALL LAWS which shall be “NECESSARY AND PROPER ” for carrying into execution the foregoing powers…” Jefferson Bill of Rights (Tenth Amendment)  “The powers NOT DELEGATED to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are RESERVED TO THE STATES respectively, or to the people.”

On Economics Hamilton Jefferson balanced economy of agriculture trade, finance, and manufacturing gov’t aid to trade, finance, and manufacturing establish a national bank maintain internal taxes use national debt to establish credit Jefferson agriculture backbone of the nation opposed gov’t aid to trade, finance, and manufacturing opposed establishment of national bank eliminate internal taxes pay off the national debt

On Foreign Policy Hamilton Jefferson Supported Britain (parent country) Jefferson America obligated to help France

Hamiltonians (Federalist Party) Consisted of bankers, manufacturers, merchants, professional people, and wealthy farmers Had the most support in New England and along the Atlantic coast Jeffersonians (Democratic-Republican Party) Made up of artisans, shopkeepers, frontier settlers, and small farmers Was strongest in the South, in the Southwest, and on the frontier

Hamilton’s National Bank Goal 1. Have the Federal Government assume the states' Revolutionary War debts 2. Pay off the war debts 3. Raise money for the new government 4. Establish a national bank and to create common currency

How it Works National Bank raise $10 million in stock - $2 million by US gov’t - $8 million by public (1/4 paid in gold/silver) loan $ to nat’l gov’t or private interests - internal improvements only bank private company 20-year charter rotation of directors cannot issue or incur debts beyond amount raised

Hamilton’s Arguments For it is a private business

Which man’s philosophies do you most agree with?

What position do you think Hamilton and Jefferson would take on today’s legislative issues? Immigration Higher education Abortion Fracking Privacy Same-sex Marriage National Debt Involvement in the Middle East Terrorism