hamilton v. jefferson. on popular rule: jefferson: voters had to be educated universal education...
TRANSCRIPT
Hamilton v. Jefferson
On Popular Rule:
Jefferson:
Voters had to be educated
Universal education would precede universal suffrage
Absolute freedom of speech
Hamilton:
Rule should be “by the best people”
“Those who own the country should rule it.”
Advocated strong military to crush Shays’s or Whiskey Rebellions.
The Clash over States’ Rights
Jefferson:
Kentucky & Virginia Resolutions, 1798, (reaction to Alien & Sedition Acts): secretly penned by Jefferson & approved by state legislatures: if federal law exceeded its constitutional power, the states can nullify the law: “nullification will later be used by South
Hamilton:
People, not the states make up the contract between the governed and the government
The Spectrum of Disagreement
Jefferson:
•Power resides in the states
•Agrarian society
•Pro-French
•“minutemen” over strong military
•Abolish national debt
Hamilton:
•Strong central government
•Industry
•Pro-Britain
•Strong defense
•National debt OK
The Bank of the United States, 1791:
Jefferson:
Unconstitutional!
“strict constructionist”: interpret the Constitution exactly as written
Hamilton:
Wanted to model bank on Bank of England.
The government would be the major stockholder; Treasury would deposit extra money; Bank would print paper money.
“Loose Constructionism”: Constitution is loosely interpreted