Rap battles Hamilton vs. Jefferson

“The issue on the table…” Hamilton’s plan: Federal government would assume state’s debts – this would create a national debt. Jefferson didn’t like this idea so much…

‘Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness’ Jefferson says, “Don’t act, surprised, you guys, cause I wrote ‘em.” Where did he actually get the idea of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness from? John Locke

“Now, place your bets as to who that benefits…” Jefferson is referring to the fact that Hamilton is from New York, and his father-in-law is a senator from New York. Jefferson is from Virginia, where their state debts are paid. Jefferson doesn’t think it’s right for VI to help pay for NY’s debts.

“Look, when Britain taxed our tea we got frisky” What’s he referring to? The Boston Tea Party. The government did end up taxing whiskey, which led to the Whiskey Rebellion, which Washington himself had to defeat.

What was jefferson doing in monticello? Monticello is in France, and this is where Jefferson lived during the Revolution. He was very passionate about the French government, and felt that the new American government should be like France.

“The union gets a boost” Hamilton and others felt that if the whole country had one national debt to pay off, then they would unify and want to work together.

“Your debts are paid ‘cuz you don’t pay for labor” Jefferson was from Virginia and owned slaves. Hamilton is arguing that’s why Virginia’s debts are paid – they don’t have to pay for labor because they have slaves.

Issue: Should the us help france in war? What did America promise to do when France helped them win the Revolution? Aid France in their wars! Now, France needs help. Jefferson wants to help them, but Hamilton doesn’t.

“A promise we’d lend a hand.” Jefferson idolized France and felt that it was the US’s duty to aid them in their war.

Hamilton disagreed… France was in the middle of the French Revolution. They had just chopped off their king’s head. Hamilton felt that getting involved would be too messy.

What happened? Washington sided with Hamilton, and the US did not help France in their war. France wasn’t too happy with the US.

Washington’s farewell address “However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.” ---George Washington, Farewell Address Essentially, he’s saying… Even though political parties may sometimes achieve good results, they will probably become ways for sly, ruthless, and dishonest men to threaten the power of the people, and to take over the government. After they take over, they will destroy the very party that got them to where they are.

But what happened? No sooner had Washington warned about political parties, when they formed… Hamilton led the Federalist Party. Jefferson led the Democratic Republican Party.

federalists Wanted a strong national government that could control commerce, taxes, declaring war, and making treaties. Felt that the Constitution was open to interpretation – nowhere did it say the government could create a national bank, but it was one of those “implied powers.” Supported New England.

Democratic Republicans Wanted strong state governments. Felt that the Constitution needed to be followed word for word. Supported Southern and Western states.

Hamilton musical https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wboCdgzLHg