Hamiltonian and Jeffersonian politics PDF

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Compare and contrast the philosophical approaches of Hamilton and Jefferson ...

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Compare and contrast 'Hamiltonian' and 'Jeffersonian' philosophical approaches to American politics and democracy. In 1783, at the end of the American Revolution, two political philosophies dominated American politics. These two philosophies of government grew further apart and ultimately led to the formation of Americas first political parties. Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, both Founding Fathers, each put forward arguments on their beliefs, creating 'Hamiltonian' and 'Jeffersonian' philosophical approaches. The debates that were sparked between these two schools of thought have now been replaced by contemporary debates between the democrats and republicans. Few of Americas Founding Fathers influenced its political system more than Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton was a member of the Continental Congress, an author of the Federalist Papers, a Champion of the Constitution and the first Secretary of the Treasury. It was here, where he helped form the first National Bank, the U.S. Mint, and a tax collection bureau that would later become the U.S. Coast Guard. Since 1790 the Coast Guard as safeguarded Americas maritime interests and environment around the world. Hamilton's great achievements as Secretary off the Treasury included funding the federal debt at face value, which rectified and nationalized the financial chaos inherited from the Revolution. Hamilton's achievements continue as he is responsible for creating the first National Bank of America, inspired by the model of the Bank of England. Later in life, Alexander Hamilton faced personal and political scandals which led to his death. He was shot by the then President, Aaron Burr in July 1804.1

1 Mitchell, B (1976). Alexander Hamilton: A Concise Biography. London: Oxford University Press. p134.

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Many of Hamilton's policies were opposed by Thomas Jefferson- a Founding Father and spokesman for democracy. Jefferson was the third president of the United States of America. He notably wrote a Bill establishing religious freedom in 1786. Jefferson's sympathy for the French Revolution led him into conflict with Alexander Hamilton. Many aspects of politics Hamilton believed in strongly, Jefferson strongly opposed, and visa versa. However, the pair had more in common with each other than what many realise. Although their support for each other was inconsistent and most of the time non existent, there had been occasions where thee two were able to see eye to eye. For instance, in 1800, Republican electors, attempting to name both a President and Vice President from their own party, cast a vote between Jefferson and Aaron Burr. Hamilton, disliking both, nevertheless urged Jefferson's election. Micheal Federici authored the Political Philosophy of Alexander Hamilton. In his analysis Federici argues that Hamilton was moral realist who believes that the lessons of history were far more valuable to constructing a government than any abstract philosophy. Federici refers to Hamilton's work therefore, as "the accumulated experience of ages". 2 'Hamiltonian political philosophy' broadly stands for a strong central government in which power lays predominantly with the those in charge. Jefferson on the other hand, left the world with the legacy 'Jeffersonian political philosophy'. Jefferson hugely promoted an agrarian society and supported a country where the people could govern themselves. Jeffersonian's aim for a government with constrained powers and are followers of strict interpretation of the constitution. Generally, Hamiltonians make up the Federalist Party which consists of bankers, manufacturers, merchants, professional people, and wealthy farmers. Whilst Jeffersonian's constitute the 2 Federici, M (2012). The Political Philosophy of Alexander Hamilton. England: Johns Hopkins University Press. p291.

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Democratic-Republican Party, made up of artisans, shopkeepers, frontier settlers, and small farmers. The next section of this essay will illustrate contrasts between the two, by looking at a number of different political aspects and examining the ideological stance of Hamilton and Jefferson which will explain the origins of the philosophies of Hamiltonianism and Jeffersonianism. Important lessons about the benefits and the perils of prerogative can be gleaned from a comparison of the positions of Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton who are often thought to hold diametrically opposed views regarding the executive in a constitutional order. Despite significant differences on particular points, they agreed in general that the President may legitimately exercise prerogative powers in genuine cases of emergency that threaten vital substantive ends, including primarily the preservation of society.3 The great debate regarding the distribution of power between the Federal Government and the individual state governments poses different arguments by Hamiltonian's and Jeffersonian's. In the federalist camp, Hamilton championed the cause of what he called an "energetic executive".4 He felt that a responsible government must include a check on the coherent passions of the massesrepresented by the legislative branch. Hamilton wrote about his views of the executive power extensively in The Federalist, outlining his arguments for a strong executive branch in The Federalist No. 70. He deemed a strong executive necessary to prevent foreign attacks, to protect 3 Fatovic, C. (2004). Constitutionalism and Presidential Prerogative: Jeffersonian and Hamiltonian Perspectives. American Journal of Political Science. 48 (3), p429-444.

4 Hamilton, Alexander; Madison, James; and Jay, John. The Federalist, No.70. Edited by Jacob E. Cooke. Middletown, Conn.: Wesleyan University Press, 1961.

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private property and to protect people from the consequences of an anarchy. Hamilton declared “A feeble executive implies a feeble execution of the government. A feeble execution is but another phrase for a bad execution: And a government ill executed, whatever it may be in theory, must be in practice a bad government.”5 This suggests that not only does he insist on the need for a strong government but he also defines a weak executive as the essence of a bad government. This belief is in total contrast of the beliefs of Thomas Jefferson and so Jeffersonian's. Hamiltonians, with regards to the power of the executive argues for less rigid constitutional constraints on the executive by the legislative branch that might reduce the efficiency of the presidency. Another reason Hamilton believed that the power should remain within the Federal Government is because he thought that that common people were not educated enough and so not to be trusted with such power. Clearly this demonstrates his lack of commitment to democracy. The Jeffersonian views on power of the executive are no less passionate than those of Hamiltonians. The main point of difference lies with Jefferson's faith in the legislative branch. He viewed those who harbored such strong faith in the executive as "monocrats". Jefferson was especially concerned with the Presidency becoming too much like the English Monarchy. Unlike Hamilton, Jefferson sees the major war-powers as residing with the legislative branch while the power to make peace rests with the executive. He writes in a letter to James Madison in 1801 "The constitution has authorized the ordinary legislature alone to declare war against any

5 Hamilton, Alexander; Madison, James; and Jay, John. The Federalist, No.70. Edited by Jacob E. Cooke. Middletown, Conn.: Wesleyan University Press, 1961.

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foreign nation. If they may enact a perfect, they may a qualified war, as was done against France.”6 As mentioned above, Hamiltonians would prefer a loose interpretation of the constitution but, in Jefferson's writings to Madison, he clearly favors a strict interpretation of the constitution. The above example illustrates this. Hamiltonians and Jeffersonian's further dispute on the grounds of slavery in America. When people consider liberty and freedom in America, perhaps it is fair to say than the first man that comes to mind is Thomas Jefferson, after all, it was he who wrote the Declaration of Independence. Yet in Lincolns view, Jefferson was not the best medium to consult for dealing with slavery under the constitution. Part of the reason behind this was, because Jefferson's doctrine of nullification and his opposition to the North's attempt to ban slavery from Missouri as a condition of entry into the union, did not accord with Lincolns own views.7 Instead Lincoln harkened to the opinions of the thirty nine Founders who formed the original constitution. Out of those men, Lincoln pointed out that the most noted antislavery man of those times included Dr. Franklin, Alexander Hamilton and Gouvernor Morris. Alexander Hamilton agreed that slavery was no fit condition for human beings. In 1774 he wrote that “All men have one common original: they participate in one common nature, and consequently have one common right.” There was, he argued, no just reason that, “one man should exercise any power, or preeminence over his fellow creatures."8 Hamilton, having been born into a less privileged life 6 Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, July 15, 1801. The Works of Thomas Jefferson in Twelve Volumes. Federal Edition. Collected and Edited by Paul Leicester Ford. 7 Chan, M. (2004). Alexander Hamilton on Slavery. The Review of Politics. 66 (2), p207-231. 8 Horton, J. O. (2003). Alexander Hamilton, Slavery and Race in a Revolutionary Generation. The New York Journal of American History. 65 (1), p19.

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compared to that of Jefferson had seen and probably participated in the auctioning of slaves. He was not an advocate of slavery but when the issue of slavery came into conflict with his personal ambitions, or his belief of what would promote America's interests, Hamilton chose those goals over opposing slavery.In the first instance, it is undoubtedly true that Hamilton rested part of his opposition to slavery on Lockean grounds of natural rights, but Hamiltonian philosophy places more emphasis on 'self preservation' being mans initial principal but not its highest principal.9 Similarly, although more passionately, Jefferson saw the economic impact of slavery to have more weight in his policies over the matter of abolishing slavery. Jeffersonian philosophy is perhaps best understood through Jefferson's psychology. He was a man tormented by the central contradiction of his life.He had once lived off slavery and chose to turn a blind eye to the fact he was a baron a slavocracy in which a tiny elite amassed all their wealth by exploiting laborers in the harshest possible way. His recognition of a manufacturing economy eventually surpassing an agrarian economy made him fearful of the northerner's using their political power to abolish slavery.10 Jefferson's writings of the Declaration of Independence, promotes freedom. However, no such promotions are made in his own philosophies. Hamiltonian and Jeffersonian philosophies, again drastically differ when considering the fundamental practice of democracy. Alexander Hamilton represents a perspective that sees risk in greater participation and thus, favours a larger role for the elites. The Hamiltonian model of participation argues that the quality of the decision be diluted by more participants, suggesting that democracy could be bad for democracy This model of participation stands in great contrast

9 Chan, M. (2004). Alexander Hamilton on Slavery. The Review of Politics. 66 (2), p212 10 Nester, W (2012). The Hamiltonian Vision, 1789-1800 . England: Potomac Books, Inc. p201

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with that of the Jeffersonian approach, which holds that more participation yields a more involved and engaged public and that, in turn, produces better outcomes. In other words, democracy thrives with more democracy.11 This essay has discussed ways in which Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson each pose different policies on different ends of the political spectrum. It is clear that their legacies still live on today though the followings of Hamiltonian philosophical approach to American politics and that of the Jeffersonian approach. The debate over the effectiveness of centralized over decentralized governments, has continued and has become a modern debate. Despite their differences as politicians and as men, there was a degree of common ground between Hamilton and Jefferson when it came to culture. Both read the same books and admired the same political philosophers and neither made any attempt to link religion with virtue.12 This formed the foundation upon which they formed their ideologies.

11 Geer, J.G (2015). Gateways to Democracy: An Introduction to American Government . 3rd ed. London: Cengage Learning. p315 12 Guelzo, A.C (2003). Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President . Oxford: William B Eerdmans Publishing . p10.

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Bibliography

Mitchell, B (1976). Alexander Hamilton: A Concise Biography. London: Oxford University Press. p134. Federici, M (2012). The Political Philosophy of Alexander Hamilton. England: Johns Hopkins University Press. p291. Fatovic, C. (2004). Constitutionalism and Presidential Prerogative: Jeffersonian and Hamiltonian Perspectives. American Journal of Political Science. 48 (3), p429-444. Hamilton, Alexander; Madison, James; and Jay, John. The Federalist, No.70. Edited by Jacob E. Cooke. Middletown, Conn.: Wesleyan University Press, 1961. Hamilton, Alexander; Madison, James; and Jay, John. The Federalist, No.70. Edited by Jacob E. Cooke. Middletown, Conn.: Wesleyan University Press, 1961. Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, July 15, 1801. The Works of Thomas Jefferson in Twelve Volumes. Federal Edition. Collected and Edited by Paul Leicester Ford. Chan, M. (2004). Alexander Hamilton on Slavery. The Review of Politics. 66 (2), p207-231. Horton, J. O. (2003). Alexander Hamilton, Slavery and Race in a Revolutionary Generation. The New York Journal of American History. 65 (1), p19. Chan, M. (2004). Alexander Hamilton on Slavery. The Review of Politics. 66 (2), p212. Nester, W (2012). The Hamiltonian Vision, 1789-1800 . England: Potomac Books, Inc. p201. Geer, J.G (2015). Gateways to Democracy: An Introduction to American Government . 3rd ed. London: Cengage Learning. p315. Guelzo, A.C (2003). Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President . Oxford: William B Eerdmans Publishing . p10....