Top-Rated Free Essay
Preview

Vice President of the United States and Alexander Hamilton

Good Essays
516 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Vice President of the United States and Alexander Hamilton
| updated November 6, 2013

Copy Link Code

0

Thomas Jefferson vs Alexander Hamilton, one of the chief rivalries at the center of American politics through the first two decades, split the nation by ideology and purpose. Hamilton, a staunch Federalist, and Jefferson with his agrarian democracy, could not agree on much in regards to the structure and role of government. During the first term of the Washington administration, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton were both serving on the Cabinet as the Treasurer and Secretary of State respectively. Their constant disagreements over fiscal policy, such as Hamilton's proposal for a central bank, led to Jefferson's resignation from the administration. President Washington would hold a grudge against Thomas Jefferson for the rest of his life after the latter formed an anti-administration party with James Madison. The factionalism caused by the Alexander Hamilton vs Thomas Jefferson rivalry would eventually lead to the formation of the country's first political parties. Hamilton's Federalists held the early advantage over Jefferson's Republicans, later known as the Democratic-Republicans.

With an electoral loss to his old friend and Federalist candidate, John Adams, contemporary laws made Jefferson the Vice President. His leadership of a very vocal opposition did not cease, however, despite threats posed by the Quasi-War of 1796 and subsequent reactionary policies enacted by the Federalists including the Alien & Sedition Acts. In the election of 1800, which Jefferson considered a peaceful revolution, the Democratic-Republican coalition of Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr received the majority of votes over Adams' bid for re-election but the two running mates had split the vote evenly in the electoral college, sending the decision to Congress. It was there that Alexander Hamilton, leader of the influential High Federalist faction, became kingmaker.

The Alexander Hamilton vs Thomas Jefferson chart got its biggest point on the positive side with this decision. In a choice between Jefferson and Burr, Hamilton actually preferred the former as more principled and less of a threat to the institutions built by previous administrations of Federalists. The hatred between Hamilton and Burr was stronger than the rivalry of Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson; indeed, the two would partake in a duel near the end of Jefferson's first term in which Burr mortally wounded Hamilton. Although Burr would never face charges for murder, Jefferson dropped him from the ticket in his bid for re-election, ending Burr's political career. In the Alexander Hamilton biography, we find that it was his undermining of Burr's bid for the Governorship of New York that led to their fateful challenge. During his second term, President Jefferson was able to weaken or dismantle many of the departments and functions of the federal government that Federalists had created, including the central bank originally founded by Alexander Hamilton. In his efforts to return the nation to principles originally evoked in the Articles of Confederation, Jefferson gave birth to a form of democracy that would take his name. Based on an ideal of agrarian communities and a voting populace of white property-owners, Jeffersonian democracy is still upheld by opponents of large, centralized government. - See more at: http://aboutthomasjefferson.com/alexander-hamilton-and-thomas-jefferson/237/#sthash.82ZKMRWt.dpuf

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The conflict between the Antifedralists and the Federalists had a tremendous impact on our country. The Federalists, led by Hamilton, represented the urban mercantile interests of the seaports. The Antifedralists, led by Jefferson, spoke for the rural and southern interests. The central government and its power was mainly what separated the two parties. The federalists favored how things had been formerly, while the Antifederalists advocating states rights. I see the Antifederalists’ approach being best for America’s problems and being able to more clearly see the future of America.…

    • 485 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A precedent to today’s Democratic and Republican rivalry, the United States witnessed the beginnings of internal political divisions with the First Party System. Those seeking a strong central government and well-developed foreign policies rallied their support behind the Federalist Party and its founder, the first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton. Whilst those who desired more focus on the rights of individual states and the common people at the base of the nation became members of, the first Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson’s Democratic-Republican Party. However, neither party was able to stand the test of time: the Federalists with waning support dissolved during Monroe’s Era of Good Feelings, the Democratic-Republicans…

    • 167 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The confliction between Hamilton and Adams make sure a Republican victory. In 1796, Jefferson and Adams’ Federalist running mate Thomas Pinckney was chosen by South Carolina’s legislature. Adams and Burr would be removed and Jefferson and Pinckney would get 73 votes if they chose Jefferson and Charley Pinckney. Hamilton’s intend that opposed Adams got reversed. It made Pinckney want to get votes from electors who promised to Adams and Pinckney.…

    • 178 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    During the late 1700s, after the American Revolution, George Washington became the first President of the United States. In 1789 when Washington assumed the presidency, Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson both served as cabinet members. Hamilton served as Secretary of the Treasury and Jefferson the Secretary of State. Alexander Hamilton is well known as the founder of the Federalists, a group of people who favored adopting the Constitution as the backbone of this nation. That view was opposed by Jefferson, founder of the Democrat-Republican Party, and by virtue anti-federalists.…

    • 143 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Which made their rivalry even more intense. Hamilton was an intense Federalist in favor of a very powerful federal government. Madison was a Democratic-Republican, so he was in favor of states rights. Burr was a little different, he mostly cared about how to gain power and once joined the other party to improve his chances of becoming president he stayed with Jefferson and the Democratic-Republicans for most of his political career. The first rift between Hamilton and Jefferson started when they were selected to serve as cabinet members, Hamilton as Treasury secretary and Jefferson as Secretary of State. Since they had such wildly different viewpoints they often fought. Hamilton, a very egotistical person, sometimes even called a narcissist, attacked Jefferson’s character to demean him during cabinet meetings. Burr and Hamilton were both very well known public figures who were even friends until Burr ran for a Senate seat and beat out Hamilton's father in law. In the article Mr. Kennedy explains how he believes this wasn't a direct act of aggression to Hamilton, as some historians believe, showing just one claim of bias in this analysis. Burr and Jefferson's conflict started in the election of 1800. To make it brief, The voting process was different back then. Jefferson and Burr tied for the most votes and instead of stepping aside for Jefferson, Burr made an attempt at the Presidency. And in order to break the tie, Hamilton endorsed Jefferson, which made electors swing their vote to Jefferson, breaking the tie. This was just one reason Burr challenged Hamilton to duel. Hamilton saw Jefferson as the lesser of two evils, even going as far as saying Burr was a “mischievous enemy.” The 18th century equivalent of calling someone a liar and a fraud on television today. These three men disliked each other a great deal and showed it to the press, and to one…

    • 718 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Chapters 11-16

    • 433 Words
    • 2 Pages

    By 1800 the Federalist party was split, clearing the way to the presidency for the Democratic-Republicans. Two men ran for the nomination: Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr. Each received an equal number of votes in the electoral college, which mean that the Federalist-dominated House of Representatives were required to choose a president. Jefferson finally won (Albert Gallatin as his treasurer). Hamilton sided with Jefferson because he believed Burr to be an unfit and dangerous man. Burr later on killed Hamilton in a duel.…

    • 433 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    There were two who opposed on most things and fought for what in which they believed in harshly, one was a patriot and the leader of the republicans, the other was a loyalist, leader of the federalists. The Patriot, Thomas Jefferson was born in Virginia on April 13, 1743, he grew up with a old respective family and was a very smart and gifted. The loyalist, Alexander Hamilton was born in the british west indies on January 11, 1757 and grew up with no family or money but was also very smart and gifted. These two hated each other as being leaders of two different political parties, they fought over many things like what kind of government there should have been back in the 17-18 hundreds. They also had trouble agreeing on what the ideal economy…

    • 611 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. Two men who have played a major role in shaping our nation. Like most influential men of that time, their ideas did not always flow in the same direction. Although Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton butted heads, they established many of today’s ideals. This essay will describe Jefferson and Hamilton, describe how they shaped the political divide as well as why we credit them with the beginning of the two political parties of today.…

    • 387 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hamilton was offended because he thought Burr had insulted his father in law. Burr was not usually publicly critical of others. He rarely expressed negative opinions.This was not normal of him to express his opinions towards Hamilton. Later, In 1800, Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr ran for president. After the election, the votes were counted, Jefferson and Burr had both received 73 electoral votes. The House of Representatives then got to vote to decide on who would be President and who would become Vice President. The house voted over and over many times. Hamilton decided to vote for Thomas Jefferson, only because he was greatly opposed to Burr. After the house voted many times, Thomas Jefferson won on the 36th vote. Aaron Burr became Vice President. Burr was furious that Hamilton publicly claimed that Burr would hurt the country if he became president. Burr was also furious that he lost because he thought Hamilton had influenced the…

    • 1126 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hamilton vs Jefferson

    • 528 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Their views on long-term economic outlooks were divergent from each other. Hamilton saw the need for a balanced economy that included agriculture, trade, and manufacturing. On the other hand, Jefferson was convinced that the economy should be solely based upon agriculture. Probably the most notable of the differences in economic outlook between Hamilton and Jefferson was their opinion of whether America should have a national bank or not. Of course Hamilton, being a federalist, trusted that a national bank would be of great benefit to the country while Jefferson believed the latter. Yet another very important dispute between the two great leaders was the use of national debt. Jefferson wanted to go ahead pay off the debt to whom it was owed to. Hamilton, on the other hand, felt that it would be better…

    • 528 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    John Adams was the last Federalist president which led to the next 16 years of Thomas Jefferson as president for two terms and James Madison as president for two terms. Jefferson and Madison were members of the Republican Party, which had principles and philosophies that were very different than the views of the Federalists. Jefferson and Madison each abandoned the Republican philosophies for Federalism. Jefferson and Madison took on Federalist views while being President of the United States. However, Jefferson and Madison each picked somewhere to stand their ground and keep some of their Republican views.…

    • 925 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Alexander Hamilton, one of the most important people of the time, was the first Secretary of the Treasury. Utilizing federal power to modernize the nation, he convinced Congress to use an elastic interpretation of the Constitution to pass laws that Jefferson deemed unconstitutional. These laws included federal assumption of the state debts, creation of a national bank, and a system of taxes through a tariff on imports and a tax on whiskey. Hamilton was also the creator of the Federalist Party. In contrast, Thomas Jefferson was born to a wealthy family but was nonetheless an anti-federalist. He was sympathetic towards the poor people and advocated state’s rights.…

    • 937 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Jefferson Vs Hamilton Dbq

    • 664 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Jefferson and Hamilton were both fundamental in the creation of the Constitution and the present government. They both agreed that the government needed some changes, but that is where the similarities ended. Hamilton was the creator of the Federalist Party which represented favor in strong central government, a Federal Bank, and a stable financial system. Jefferson was the creator of the Anti-Federalist Party who did not favor strong central government, and believed in an agrarian economy. Both leaders had influence on the new government and economy of America, but had different view on how it should be run.…

    • 664 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    ur gey

    • 942 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Interestingly, the old Federalist Congress would make the decision, since the newly elected Republicans had not yet taken office. Most Federalists preferred Burr, and, once again, Alexander Hamilton shaped an unpredictable outcome. After numerous blocked ballots, Hamilton helped to secure the presidency for Jefferson, the man he felt was the lesser of two evils. Ten state delegations voted for Jefferson, 4 supported Burr, and 2 made no choice.…

    • 942 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    With respect to the Constitution, Jeffersonian Republicans were casually characterized as strict constructionists who opposed the broad constructionism of the Federalist Party. By the end of John Adams’ presidential administration in 1800, two political parties emerged with opposite philosophical views of the Constitution; to shift once the democratic-republicans took office. When the revolution of 1800 propelled the democratic-republicans into office, Jefferson and Madison found Alexander Hamilton's financial structure to be advantageous. The “necessary and proper” clause of the Constitution was expanded by both Jefferson and Madison to address threats to national security. In order to counter the democratic-republicans, the federalists resorted…

    • 687 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays