Jefferson V Hamilton | Course Paper

Robert Culhane

Hist 109 MW

Mrs. Manley

Essay #1

Jefferson vs Hamilton

Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton undoubtedly paved the way for modern politics

and worked together to created a America thriving on freedom and democracy. These two men

had ideas very different from their predecessors and were both bold enough to stand their ground

and speak for what they believe in. Jefferson and Hamilton had a common a goal, however- the

two lacked in agreement on how to get to that goal, this lead to the formation of the infamous

Federalist Party- lead by the outspoken Alexander Hamilton and the Anti Federalist Party

founded by Thomas Jefferson.

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Each party had similar goals of independence and freedom, but

the two parties had differences in policies and political concepts that helped influence the way

for politics today and helped shaped the nation we are living in.

When reading Noble E. Cunningham S Jefferson vs. Hamilton – Confrontations That Shaped

a Nation, there are clear examples of divided opinions and split beliefs- from Foreign policy, the

role of the federal government versus the state government, Banking and Economics, to the

constitution itself. I will use these examples to show how the divide between Thomas Jefferson

and Alexander Hamilton not only shook the Nation at a young and vulnerable time but also how

they paved the way for modern politics with their outspoken philosophy and clear agenda.

Banking and Economics

Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton first began their political divide early on when

Hamilton was assigned the devious task of assessing the public credit.

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Afterall, following the

Revolutionary war the young government was faced with extreme debt. Hamilton’s background

in finance and economics allowed him to compile a sophisticated fifty one page report loaded

with everything the government needed to know along with a time frame which he proposed to

the house on January 14 1790.

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Unfortunately, certain parts of Hamilton’s proposed idea had

politicians and lawmakers concerned, his plan to repay the debt overseas had no opposition, but

1

Noble E. Cunningham, “Conflict in Washington’s Cabinet” in Jefferson vs Hamilton: Confrontations that

Shaped a Nation, Noble E. Cunningham Jr., (Boston: Bedford st Martin’s 2000) 77

2

Noble E. Cunningham, “Diverging Courses” in Jefferson vs Hamilton: Confrontations that Shaped a

Nation, Noble E. Cunningham Jr., (Boston: Bedford st Martin’s 2000) 29

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Ibid.

when it came to repaying the state owed debt there were differences. In oppositions opinions

many of the securities have lost their value and depreciated over time, not to mention a lot of the

time the securities weren’t even held by the original owner but bought by speculators.

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After

repeatedly debating how to repay the state debt and discussing back and forth, the House was at a

gridlock, that’s when Thomas Jefferson reached out. Even though it was out of Jefferson’s sector,

Jefferson arrange a meeting between his friend, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton to try

and come to a resolve. In a memoir written by Thomas Jefferson in 1792, Jefferson states his

intentions on bringing James Madison and Alexander Hamilton together; “On considering the

situation of things I thought the first step towards some conciliation of views would be to bring

Mr. Madison and Colo. Hamilton to a friendly discussion of the subject”

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. Soon after this

meeting between Madison and Hamilton, and following vigorous lobbying by Hamilton, an

agreement was made in congress in favor of Alexander Hamilton’s proposed settlement. It didn’t

take long for Thomas Jefferson to regret these arrangements due to the unethical nature of

Alexander Hamilton’s lobbying.Thomas Jefferson felt he had been used as a tool by Alexander

Hamilton to strengthen his own political agenda.

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Hamilton rigorously persuaded and threatened

leaders from Virginia and Pennsylvania to the point where Thomas Jefferson wrote “It was

unjust, in itself oppressive to the states, and was acquiesced in merely from a fear of disunion,

while our government was still in it’s most infant state. It enabled Hamilton so to strengthen

himself by corrupt services to many, that he could afterward carry his bank scheme, and every

measure he proposed in defiance of the opposition..”

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This was only the beginning of Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton’s rocky

relationship together on George Washington’s cabinet, not only was Alexander Hamilton’s views