Hamilton And Jefferson Similarities

Why couldn’t Hamilton and Jefferson get along? Alexander Hamilton was born on January 11, 1755 in Nevis, British West Indies and Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743, Shadwell, VA. They both grew up on plantations and had families and siblings. However, Jefferson had nine siblings while Hamilton only had his younger brother James A. Hamilton. The two men had a great adoration for reading and were brilliant. They were phenomenal writers and had many famous works. They were both founding fathers and were part of Washington’s first cabinet. Even though the two had quite a few similarities, the two could not be more contrasting. Once in Washington’s cabinet, the tension began and only escalated as time went on. Alexander Hamilton and Thomas

Hamilton believed in a strong central government and to acquire this, wealth was the key. He wanted to make the United States rich in order for it to become a very powerful government. Hamilton learned first hand what it is like to earn a living, and that is why he believed, that wealth was the foundation in building a strong nation. He felt that those with wealth, merchants known now as businessman, would launch the U.S. into wealth and power. He also believed that with wealth came knowledge. When Hamilton started his journey as Secretary of Treasury, he was faced with many difficulties; The National Debt was such an obstacle. However, he considered it a necessary one, “A national debt, if it is not excessive, will be to us a national blessing. It will be a powerful cement of our Union.” (From Thomas Jefferson to James Duane September 3, 1781) He felt the utmost importance in paying off all of our debts. This was significant in order to build exemplary credit and creating our first National Bank, the Bank of the United States. On the other hand, Jefferson’s idea of America was one built by farmers and not merchants. He thought the only person who was truly free were indeed the farmers. In a letter he says, “I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.” (From Thomas Jefferson to Archibald Stuart December

On February 25th, 1793, Washington held his first full Cabinet meeting with Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of War Henry Knox, and Attorney General Edmund Randolph. Once in office the two immediately made it clear they’ll never truly see eye to eye. Hamilton, a true believer in a strong central government, felt he needed to limit democracy and make the U.S. a powerful nation “It has been observed . . . that a pure democracy if it were practicable would be the most perfect government. Experience has proved that no position is more false than this.” (Hamilton, speech-urging ratification of the Constitution in New York June 17, 1788). He turned to Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 of the Constitution, which allows Congress to have the power "To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof." utilizing it to make his America; this was also known as the elastic clause or as he called it, Broad Construction. In order to expand the powers, he broadly interpreted the meaning of the Constitution. Jefferson could not contend with any of Hamilton’s ideals. He believed in Strict Construction. He