Comparing jefferson and hamilton essays

Comparing jefferson and hamilton essays Thomas Jeffersons and Alexander Hamiltons visions of America differed greatly. Jefferson wanted the Farmers dream and Hamilton wanted the Merchants dream. Both thought their dreams would secure happiness and peoples natural rights. Jefferson was very well informed about John Locks Enlightenment theory and was a firm believer in natural rights and the pursuit of happiness. Jeffersons vision of America was the agrarian life. He visioned smaller communities that worked together for a better life. Jeffersons philosophy was based on social change. Jeffersons vision of America looked a lot like the Southern way of life. The South was know for farming and farming was apart of Jeffersons vision. The South also favored a weak central government; Jefferson wanted a weak federal government. Jefferson had an innate distrust of political authority and he believed that a stable government came from private happiness. Hamiltons vision of America was the rich-mans life. Hamilton believed heavily in big business and in big government. Hamilton wanted America to have a capitalist economy, where only money matters. Commercialism and big business is what Hamilton thought happiness would come from. A big government provides stability and order which leads to public strength and security. Hamilton also believed in social control, this differs from Jefferson who believed in social change. Hamiltons vision of America s much like the Norths economy and Jeffersons vision is much like the Souths economy. Of course Hamiltons vision is what prevailed. The reason why is because big business is ruthless and for many of the same reasons the North won the Civil War. Both visions are very American, both deal with the pursuit of happiness. In Hamiltons vision the merchant is happy and in Jeffersons vision the farmer ...