Jefferson vs Hamilton
Jefferson vs. Hamilton
Democratic Republican vs. Federalist
Jefferson
Image
Jefferson acted with democratic simplicity; he made his image plain and disliked people claiming positions that they didn’t deserve.
He won the 1804 reelection easily
Jefferson eliminated the feeling of majesty surrounding presidency
Views
He was a political genius, and worked as leader of his party to give the Republicans in Congress direction.
Money
Washington and Adams had increased national debt and taxation. Jefferson countered this in 1802 by having Congress get rid off all internal taxes, leaving only land sales and customs duties
He also cut government spending, which resulted in cutting the debt in half.
Military
Jefferson scaled down the armed forces and the navy, because he feared limiting civilian freedoms and government. This also promoted overseas trade instead of agriculture.
At same time, he established US Military Academy and built up the navy after threats by pasha of Tripoli (rulers in Libya), which occurred because Jefferson’s end to paying ransom demanded by pirates.
Social Composition
Jeffersonians, for the most part, were artisans, shopkeepers, frontier settlers, or owners of small farms in the interior regions of the South and West.
Government (Democratic Republican)
Jeffersonians favored a form of government that was more democratic than that of England.
Jeffersonians thought that the common people were capable of self-government. They wanted to establish a small property owner's democracy.
Jeffersonians desired to increase the opportunities for the common people to participate in government by lowering voting qualifications.
Jeffersonians favored a strict interpretation of the Constitution to limit the powers of the central government and conserve state rights.
Jeffersonians wanted to reduce the number of federal officeholders.
Hamiltonians
Social Composition
Hamiltonians, for the most part, were merchants, bankers, manufacturers,
Democratic Republican vs. Federalist
Jefferson
Image
Jefferson acted with democratic simplicity; he made his image plain and disliked people claiming positions that they didn’t deserve.
He won the 1804 reelection easily
Jefferson eliminated the feeling of majesty surrounding presidency
Views
He was a political genius, and worked as leader of his party to give the Republicans in Congress direction.
Money
Washington and Adams had increased national debt and taxation. Jefferson countered this in 1802 by having Congress get rid off all internal taxes, leaving only land sales and customs duties
He also cut government spending, which resulted in cutting the debt in half.
Military
Jefferson scaled down the armed forces and the navy, because he feared limiting civilian freedoms and government. This also promoted overseas trade instead of agriculture.
At same time, he established US Military Academy and built up the navy after threats by pasha of Tripoli (rulers in Libya), which occurred because Jefferson’s end to paying ransom demanded by pirates.
Social Composition
Jeffersonians, for the most part, were artisans, shopkeepers, frontier settlers, or owners of small farms in the interior regions of the South and West.
Government (Democratic Republican)
Jeffersonians favored a form of government that was more democratic than that of England.
Jeffersonians thought that the common people were capable of self-government. They wanted to establish a small property owner's democracy.
Jeffersonians desired to increase the opportunities for the common people to participate in government by lowering voting qualifications.
Jeffersonians favored a strict interpretation of the Constitution to limit the powers of the central government and conserve state rights.
Jeffersonians wanted to reduce the number of federal officeholders.
Hamiltonians
Social Composition
Hamiltonians, for the most part, were merchants, bankers, manufacturers,