Hamilton vs. Jefferson

He believed a strong national government was necessary to provide economic and political order; the wealthy and well-educated (elite/upper class) should rule over the masses

• Alexander Hamilton
• Thomas Jefferson

He believed the U.S. economy should be based on farming (policies should protect and support the interests of yeoman farmers).

• Secretary Hamilton
• Secretary Jefferson

He believed the Constitution should be interpreted loosely in order to give the federal government more flexibility and power (use the elastic clause).

• Alexander Hamilton (Federalist)
• Thomas Jefferson (Democratic-Republican)

He believed the power of the national government should be limited and that states should hold more power in order to protect citizens from potential tyrants. (States' Rights)

• Alexander Hamilton
• Thomas Jefferson

He proposed the creation of a national bank to regulate currency and interest rates; the BUS should be privately controlled by bankers who are invested in the nation's economy.

• Treasury Secretary Hamilton
• Secretary of State Jefferson

He believed the national government should leave taxes to the states. Protective tariffs or import taxes hurt small farmers by making products more expensive. 

• Alexander Hamilton
• Thomas Jefferson

He believed the national government should assume all state debt from the Revolutionary War and pay it back at full value in order to ensure confidence in the American economy. 

• Secretary Hamilton
• Secretary Jefferson

He believed the government should tax imported goods to generate revenue to pay off debts and to help American industry grow and develop.

• Treasury Secretary Hamilton
• Secretary of State Jefferson

He believed the Bank of the United States (BUS) was unconstitutional & places too much power in the hands of the elite.

• Federalist Alexander Hamilton
• Republican Thomas Jefferson (Democratic-Republican)

He believed the government should support manufacturing.

• Alexander Hamilton
• Thomas Jefferson