Jefferson v. Hamilton and the Federalist Era

Steven Bosco

Father Garaventa

U.S. History 11

27 November 2012

Jefferson v. Hamilton and the Federalist Era

Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton were two great leaders in United States history. Jefferson and Hamilton were opposites. Jefferson believed in small government. Hamilton believed in bigger government and more federal influence. This was the case in his day, but today he would be considered conservative and a small government advocator by comparison. Jefferson was about strict construction of the Constitution and that the Constitution means exactly what it says. It should not be open to interpretation. Hamilton, on the other hand, was about loose construction of the Constitution and that the Constitution must be interpreted because of historic and social change.

Jefferson believed the United States Constitution does not give the right to the  Government to incorporate banks (Document A). He thought doing this would set a dangerous precedence, passing over the boundaries of the constitution. Jefferson’s belief in strict construction of the Constitution shines through here. On the other side, Alexander Hamilton believed that forming banks would be in line with the Constitution (Document B). Hamilton shows his loose constructionist belief. He thought that the same powers that grant the government the right to make laws also gives the right to incorporate banks.

In Thomas Jefferson’s inaugural address he points out that people who were not used to thinking for themselves are now voting for the common good of all Americans (Document C). Jefferson believes his stance on government policies is correct and for the good of all Americans.

Anti-Federalists wanted to advise that the Constitution is lacking a bill of rights (Document D). They said the constitution gives too much power to the Government and that the individual should have rights under the protection of an official document. Jefferson stood in agreement with the Anti-Federalists and Hamilton did not in contrast.

James Madison in The Federalist No. 10 says that the Union, or our Republic, is a safe guard against domestic revolting of the people (Document E). Giving the people liberty and passion will ensure that the people are satisfied and possess the tools they need for individual freedom. Jefferson believed in individual rights to ensure a safe and calm state of America while Hamilton wanted more government presence.

According to the Sedition Act, a citizen shall be charged with high misdemeanor if a citizen opposes any measure of Government (Document F). “Alexander Hamilton and congressional Federalists took advantage of the public’s wartime fears and drafted and passed the Alien and Sedition Acts (http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sedition-act-becomes-federal-law).” This was wrong for the United States and contradicted the whole point of the Revolutionary War. We the people have pride in our freedom of speech. Fortunately, President John Adams squashed the Sedition Act. Although there was damage done, people were arrested for speaking against the government and the like.

 

Alexander Hamilton in The Federalist No. 51 talks of separation of powers, a partition of power that will keep all branches of government clean and pure (Document G). This is highly important because if power is taken, or used, from outside one branch of authority, a breakdown will occur within this brilliant system set up by America’s Constitution. For example, the President should not be able to make use of congressional powers.

In the Kentucky Resolutions, it is made clear that the United States was not united to submit to government. When government assumes un-rightful power, the people have no obligation to abide by it (Document H). The government created by this agreement of the Constitution does not have the given right to decide its own powers. It can easily be seen today that this is not the case anymore; although, it should be.

The Federal and Supreme courts have the power to decide whether or not a law is constitutional. The Federal and Supreme courts decisions are above individual state court decisions (Document I).

Hamilton believed that in order to have a strong economy and to make the free market work, there must be central banks to support commerce. Jefferson supported local banks as a means to support the free market. He believed the banks could carry out the same job to support free trade. Hamilton insulted Aaron Burr when Burr lost New York’s governor race. Burr challenged him to a duel and Hamilton accepted. Hamilton was killed in the duel at Weehawken, NJ. Jefferson served as Vice President to George Washington and President after. Jefferson was passionate about education and founded the University of Virginia. To sum up Jefferson’s character, on his tombstone he did not want it to read “President of the United States of America,” but simply acknowledging his founding of the University of Virginia. His love for America was so great that he died on the Fourth of July along with Benjamin Franklin.

Jefferson v. Hamilton and the Federalist Era