Preview

How Did Hamilton Develop The Power Of Political Parties

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
819 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
How Did Hamilton Develop The Power Of Political Parties
Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton shared power while in George Washington’s cabinet because he trusted and valued their opinions. While in George Washington’s cabinet, Hamilton and Jefferson battled each other over many issues. The different views between them formed the first two party system in the United States, which put the Federalists against the Jefferson Republicans. Although Hamilton and Jefferson shared power and may have been enemies of political parties, they fundamentally helped shape the political parties and build what America is today. It was an important goal for both Jefferson and Hamilton to diminish the national debt, but they disagreed on how this was to be done. Hamilton believed in a strong government and Jefferson believed in the …show more content…
Hamilton and Jefferson came from different backgrounds, which shaped their thoughts and ideas for opposing views on the economy. Jefferson wanted to reduce debt by making the government smaller, and Hamilton wanted to pay off the debts of the states as well as the government’s debt to create a stable economic system for the United States. Hamilton proposed the federal government take over the debt the state governments had accumulated during the Revolution. Jefferson was worried that this would threaten the Republic. “They allowed southern votes to shift to support Hamilton’s plan for assumption of the state debts.” (Brownlee). The debt from the war was paid off differently in varying states. Some states had been slow in paying their debt and would benefit from Hamilton’s plan. Other states had been working hard toward paying their debt, and Hamilton’s plan would be costly for them. Hamilton wanted the government to repay both federal and state debts. He planned to issue new bonds to pay off old debts in hopes of improving the

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    He then convinced Congress to take on the states' debts, which would create confidence in the government by the states. States with large debts, like Massachusetts, were delighted with Hamilton's proposal, but states with small debts, like Virginia, did not want the government to assume state debts. Virginia did, however, want the forthcoming federal district, the District of Columbia, which would bring commerce and prestige. So Virginia made a deal with the government: the government would assume state debts if the District of Columbia was placed…

    • 1500 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    One main proponent of a strong federal government was Alexander Hamilton, who served under George Washington as secretary of treasury. In this position Hamilton made economic policies to give the federal government more economic power and leverage. One of Hamilton first acts as secretary of treasury was to allow the federal government assume and fund the state debt incurred during the revolutionary war (Report on the Public Credit). This meant that all debt owed by the states would be taken on by the federal government and paid back to share holders. Many political figureheads especially Thomas Jefferson saw this as unfair, because most of the shareholders of the debt were wealthy American, and foreigners who bought the loans from farmers and soldiers during the revolutionary war. Southern states also found it unfair that some states receive a free pass on their financial obligations. But Hamilton put up the argument that it was the original holder's decision to sell the bond, and it was only fair for the current shareholders to receive payments for their bonds. Hamilton's assumption Bill passed in congress in 1791 and with great success, making the United states the most financially secure country in the world, which in turn drew on a large amount of investors. Consequently Hamilton bill would help draw in devoted wealthy Americans onto the side of the federal Government, by making it worth their while financially to support the government.…

    • 832 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Hamilton's vision was the most appropriate for America in 1790 because of his argument about the ways of funding debts, the creation of the banks, and the protective tariff. For funding debts, he believed that national government should pay any debts such as foreign debts, state debts, etc. so that they can build up credit with new national government. In addition, he believed that if this properly worked, the nation's economy will be balanced and stable. When it becomes stable, that benefit could also increase the supply of money.…

    • 255 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    A major factor in the creation of political parties came through the influence of Alexander Hamilton. During his time as Secretary of the Treasury to George Washington, Hamilton devised five economic programs as a result of his Nation Government ideology. Eric Foner argues that: ‘Political divisions first surfaced over the financial plan developed... in 1790 and 1791’[1]. Hamilton’s financial models won strong support from the American financiers and manufacturers, and the models would only work if America created close links with Great Britain. This ideology sparked resistance from Jefferson and Madison, as they both believed that ‘the future lay in Westward expansion’[2] and thus, the foundations for political divisions were in place due to the ideological differences between Jefferson and Hamilton. Therefore, it can be argued that Hamilton was the main initial influence to instigate political thought in America.…

    • 2165 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    They both stood for opposing political sides, Hamilton a solid federalist, while Jefferson was an anti-federalist, or republican. Their political differences helped shaped their separate images clearly throughout history. Hamilton believed that a strong central government was the key to the government’s success and had a loose interpretation of the constitution and thus concurred that civil liberties and other aspects of the constitution should at times, be restricted. Jefferson believed in a strict version of the constitution, he opposed of Hamilton’s creation of the national bank and believed it to be unconstitutional. As key additions to the government, they also had a different outlook on the people of the country. Jefferson maintained faith in the people, yet distrusted special privilege among them. Hamilton however, believed that the power should rest in the wealthy and educated and wished to raise voting qualifications. Economically, Hamilton wanted a solid balance of agriculture, trade, and manufacturing to nurture the country. Jefferson on the other hand, believed that agriculture alone should be the backbone of our economy. He believed that states alone should manage their economic growth without the government stepping in or helping, whereas Hamilton thought the opposite. He believed in the creation of the national bank and internal taxation, brought forth by the central government.…

    • 356 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Part of Hamilton’s plan to gain the people’s trust was to assume all of the states debts. However, the southern states had already paid off their debts,…

    • 319 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    AP US Thematic Essay

    • 410 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Alexander Hamilton is a believer of a loose interpretation of the Constitution. He believes that the Constitution is a living document capable to changes and adaption of new laws such as the addition of the Bill of Rights. Hamilton was a big believer in paying international war debt as soon as possible using any kind of mean necessary; therefore he proposed the idea of a National Bank to increase America’s economy. Being the country’s secretary of treasury Hamilton was focused on the improving the economy from commerce and manufacturing.…

    • 410 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hamilton was a federalist who wrote more than half of the essays in the federalist papers. Hamilton had many ideas in the new colonies that would help with debt, one way he came up with was the fiscal policies, he wanted to combine all of the state’s debt and government debt.…

    • 356 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    George Washington and Alexander Hamilton the secretary of treasury, and one of the federalist paper writers, knew that the economy could not prosper in the present chaotic atmosphere. Congress told Hamilton to write a report on the economy of the states. Hamilton analyzed in his report, the financial standing of the United States of America, and made a recommendation for the retirement of the national debt. During the American Revolution, the country under the article of confederation acquired a very large debt. America borrowed a lot of money from other European countries, mostly the French and the dutch. Hamilton’s financial plan in 1791, organized the debt in three categories, debt owed to foreign nations, debt owed by the national government to private citizens and debt owed by states to private citizens. Some states were also in debt. Hamilton calls for assumption which means that he wants to assume all the state debt into the national debt. This financial plan made the southerners angry, especially who believed in states rights. Hamilton comes to a compromise with Thomas Jefferson, the secretary of state, in order to get assumption which is what Hamilton’s wants,but Jefferson wants something for the south. The assumption is very controversial because the southern states are starting to become a state right and they are afraid that if you allow the federal government…

    • 596 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    #9 • Hamilton calls for a unity of the colonies as it is the only way to achieve peace and freedom. o He compares the United States government to that of Italy and Greece, in which the citizens were subjected to unfair treatment by their overruling leaders. o Hamilton wants to create a republican form of government that protects the people’s liberties, but also does not give all of the power to one leader.…

    • 1301 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    APUSH

    • 590 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Hamilton sought a strong central government acting in the interests of commerce and industry. He brought to public life a love of efficiency, order and organization. In response to the call of the House of Representatives for a plan for the "adequate support of public credit," he laid down and supported principles not only of the public economy, but of effective government. Hamilton pointed out that America must have credit for industrial development, commercial activity and the operations of government. It must also have the complete faith and support of the people. There were many who wished to repudiate the national debt or pay only part of it. Hamilton, however insisted upon full payment and also upon a plan by which the federal government took over the unpaid debts of the states incurred during the Revolution.…

    • 590 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The economic health of the nation was the most important domestic affair. During George Washington's presidency, Alexander Hamilton & Thomas Jefferson, his two closest advisors, faced off on opposing views of what the role of government should be, thus forming political parties. Congress and President Washington went over Hamilton's economic plan for the new nation. Hamilton called for protective tariffs, a bank of the U.S., and the encouragement of industry: all domestic issues. But Jefferson only wanted a strict constructional view of the…

    • 610 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hamilton and Jefferson had conflicting ideas on almost every issue, from how to interpret the Constitution, to who should lead the United States. As Hamilton and Jefferson gathered supporters, they both established parties. Hamilton created the Federalist Party ( the modern day equivalent to the Democratic Party). Federalists liked big national government; as opposed to Jefferson's Republican Party, which liked small national government to give more power to states. In the past, Republicans and Democrats have worked together and compromised on issues involving the country. However, recently, compromise is not being reached between the two parties.This has naturally created a divide in our country, which has only been amplified in recent presidential elections. In the words of former U.S ambassador Antonio Garza, "We've allowed ourselves to slide into the politics of anger and fear, of a group of name-calling, where the others – be they immigrants, bankers or supporters of the other candidate – are stupid, crazy, or corrupt. We've forgotten that these nameless individuals are often our neighbors, doctors, teachers, friends and family members" (Garza, 2). As illustrated by the quote, the supporters of both parties and the parties themselves are not working together. Instead, Republicans are too focused on stopping the Democratic party, and Democrats are too focused on stopping the Republican…

    • 878 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Both Jefferson and Hamilton were appointed to major political position; Jefferson became the Secretary of State while Hamilton became the Secretary of the Treasury. The two politicians clashed often: Hamilton was a Federalist and pro a larger national government, while Jefferson was a Democratic-Republican and believed in stronger state governments. Hamilton believed in an industrial-based economy, while Jefferson promoted an agriculturally-based economy. Hamilton was against French support in the French Revolution, while Jefferson supported the French cause. Because of this, it came as a surprise to many when Hamilton supported Jefferson for President in the election of 1800 over an old acquaintance of Hamilton, Aaron Burr. The two candidates tied, each with 73 Electoral College votes. The tiebreaker went to the House of Representatives, where Hamilton argued against Burr and promoted Jefferson as the “lesser of two evils” (Wikipedia). He helped convince the House to give Jefferson an edge over Burr, which led to both Jefferson winning the presidency and Burr becoming resentful about Hamilton. Four years later, Hamilton ruined Burr’s chance at becoming the governor of New York. Burr became infuriated at Hamilton for ravaging his political career, and challenged Hamilton to a duel to resolve the matter. As it was, in the early morning of July 11,…

    • 1499 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    As new problems arose facing the new nation, many different views toward the new conflicts developed. Initially, Hamilton acted aggressively to deal with the new republic's financial troubles with proposals to fund the national debt, create a central banking system and uniform currency, and promote manufacturing with a high protective tariff. Jefferson opposed these policies, objecting to the concentration of power in the hands of bankers and currency speculators. Jefferson believed that an economy dominated by small farmers, not manufacturers, would best preserve republican values. Hamilton believed in a strong central government while Jefferson believed in States’ Rights. Hamilton believed, “United States becoming a commercial and industrial empire, a world power remarkable for its ability to balance individual freedom with government power” (Tindall). Jefferson believed that an agriculture based society would better protect the civil liberties of the Americans. He feared that the growth of cities would enrich the aristocracy and widen divisions between the rich and poor, just as it has today.…

    • 488 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays