Making of America

What were the political, economic, and ideologicalphilosophies of Hamiltonian Federalists and Jeffersonian Republicans?

         The Hamiltonian Federalists were in support of a strong central government whose role would be to control other states. The Federalists led by Hamilton also held the belief that the common citizens were ignored and thus incapable of self-rule. Therefore, the qualifications for voting should be high and that the elite were the ones who should rule. Republicans, on the other hand, led by Jefferson championed for more powers to be held by the states. Jefferson and the Republicans were for state rights and believed in democratic principles. Their belief was that people were capable of independence and that the qualification for voting should be lowered.

           Federalists and Hamilton wanted business protections and tariffs they also supported manufacturing, finance, commerce and foreign trades. They also believed that a strong central government was essential to the industry and businesses to grow. Hamilton anticipated the U.S. becoming an industrial power. Jeffersonian Republicans favored an agrarian economy and believed the economic strength lied in agriculture. They preferred a government that supported the "common man" and also supported the small-scale farmers rather than those who owned plantations. The Federalists wanted the constitution to be interpreted a high military spending, a national bank, and a national debt loosely. Federalist's were against any involvement in the French Revolution, Hamilton, for example, detested the social disruption and violence that came about as a consequence of the revolution. Jefferson’s Republicans, on the other hand, were for the strict interpretation of the constitution and supported the French Revolution.

           Both Jefferson’s Republicans and Hamilton’s Federalists had different views of each other, for one republican thought that Hamilton’s Federalist was being too friendly with the British. They also opposed the loose interpretation of the Constitution terming it as weak and fought for the rights of the common citizens to control the nation. Hamilton felt that Jefferson’s policies would leave American government weak and unable to handle both foreign and national crisis. Jefferson, on the other hand, viewed that Hamilton’s policies would make the government very powerful and therefore if left unchecked would violate rights of its citizens.

What general political/philosophical issues divided Whigsand Democrats in this battle?

         Those who supported the bank stated that the bank was a powerful instrument for economic growth and had helped many states grow and checked the activities of local state banks. Democrats, on the other hand, were against its renewal and proposed a new bank under the department of treasury. They believed that the activities of the bank only benefited a small group of the rich and mostly those living in the east.

References

Foner, E. (2013). Give Me Liberty! An American History: Seagull Fourth Edition. New York: WW Norton & Company.