Comparisons And Contrasts Of Hamilton And Jefferson

Comparisons And Contrasts Of Hamilton And Jefferson

Comparisons and Contrasts of Hamilton and Jefferson
During the birth of America constructing a viable and independent system of government, Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson were two key players whose influential ideas helped create government as we know it today. These two men, with extremely opposing viewpoints, set the precedent for the Federalist Party (Hamilton), and the Democratic-Republican Party (Jefferson). The culmination of these two men’s philosophies gives American government a solid foundation on which to rule by.
Alexander Hamilton, who represented the Federalists, based his philosophy on social control. He believed that the elite and wealthy were more qualified to make diplomatic decisions, and that the common man did not have the intelligence or ambition to be involved in government issues. He was the author of the Federalist Papers, which advocated his ideas of a strong central government as a necessity to build and maintain a powerful and economically sound nation.   He made several proposals of how this could be achieved.
Hamilton felt that industry and the development of cities was the key to America achieving economical power. He wanted Americans to buy American goods over foreign goods, so he devised a plan to put protective tariffs on foreign goods that would raise the prices of foreign products. The hope was that Americans would be dissuaded from depending on foreign revenue, and turn to relying on American-made products that would profit their economical status. (Deverall, White, 1992)
To further secure America’s money, he founded the first national bank, with the purpose of depositing government funds, and making loans to businessmen, as well as the government.   He also proposed that America should have a national mint to make coins, so that America could issue its own money.   To alleviate fears that a national bank would have a monopoly, he suggested that each state in turn, should have its own bank.   All of this led to...