Differences Between Democrats And Hamilton

Early in the United States’ history, America became divided between two parties: The Federalists and the Democrats. The Federalists were led by Alexander Hamilton, and the Democrats were supported by Thomas Jefferson. These parties disagreed over many different political and economic issues. Although these parties do not exist today, remnants of their policies can still be seen in politics today. Hamilton and Jefferson opposed each other on numerous issues. Hamilton believed that the general public was unfit to hold large amounts of power. Jefferson, on the other hand, believed that the general public was perfectly capable of ruling themselves. He wanted the United States to have a weak central government, where the people had most of the

His campaign for a big, powerful government allowed for the government to support and protect the economy. His policy called for the federal government to assume the unpaid debts of the states. Hamilton states, “that assumption of the debts of the particular states by the union, will be a measure of sound policy and substantial justice” (Hamilton’s First Report on Public Credit). Hamilton’s policies also granted the right for the United States to have a National Bank that could print paper money, thereby stabilizing the value of currency. Hamilton stated that the bank’s chief object is “to enable the creation of a capital sufficiently large to be the basis of an extensive circulation, and an adequate security for it” (Hamilton’s Second Report on Public Credit). Lastly, Hamilton’s campaign promoted manufacturing and trade. With policies such as the “prohibition of the exportation of the materials of manufactures”, Hamilton planned to support and protect merchants and manufacturers (Hamilton’s Report on Manufactures). Acknowledging the strengths of Hamilton’s plan, many business men and large landowners would benefit from his policies. However, these policies created a plutocracy that left behind the small farmers and the skilled

It also allowed for the people to have the true democracy they wanted; a government controlled by the people. However, his idea of an agrarian society would have hurt the United States. His vision that “while [Americans] have land to labor then, let us never wish to see out citizens occupied at a workbench, or twirling a distaff” was not realistic (Jefferson’s Manufactures). After taking both parties strengths and weaknesses into consideration, one can conclude that Hamilton’s Federalist plan was better suited for the United