Washington appointed both Hamilton and Jefferson to his cabinet. Hamilton served as the secretary of the treasury, while Jefferson assumed the position of secretary of state. This formation of the cabinet was a significant decision by Washington, aimed at establishing precedents and offering guidance in areas not specifically outlined in the Constitution.
During their time in government, Hamilton and Jefferson had contrasting viewpoints which resulted in intense debates. However, these differing perspectives provided President Washington with a diverse range of ideas from his closest advisors. Moreover, this period marked the emergence of political parties as the election of John Adams approached. Two factions formed by then: the Republicans led by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, and the Federalists guided by Alexander Hamilton, which included President John Adams among their ranks.
Hamilton, a Federalist, advocated for a strong central government led by the upper class and focused on commerce. He regarded the general public as “selfish, unreasonable, and violent.” Hamilton’s vision encompassed the federal government’s promotion of American industries. He presented a plan to address the nation’s debts and create a national banking system. Additionally, he proposed repaying foreign debt and replacing old bonds with new ones. One significant accomplishment of Hamilton was his suggestion to establish a national bank that would receive funding from both the government and private investors. This bank would have the responsibility of issuing currency and managing government funds.
During the XYZ affair, the Federalists chose to engage in military action against the French rather than engaging in payment or negotiation, aligning with the Republican stance. The Federalists also backed and helped enact legislation such as the Naturalization Act, Alien Act, and Sedition Act. Jefferson, a Republican advocate, sought a society marked by distrust of the wealthy and governed by farmer-citizens. He strongly favored “the people” over the upper class. Committed to promoting human freedom, Jefferson valued limited government and supported local power. Furthermore, he believed that given an opportunity, people would behave decently and rationally. Disagreeing with many proposals and laws passed by Hamilton and the Federalists including establishing a national bank, Madison argued on behalf of Republicans that it was not within federal government’s authority as specified in the Constitution. Additionally, Republicans disregarded implementation of the Naturalization Act while neglecting enforcement of the Alien Act.
The Republicans, originally representing the Democratic party of today, emerged with a focus on the power and size of the federal government in relation to state and local governments. The conflicts between cabinet chiefs established a two-party system, despite concerns from leaders like Washington about its impact on national unity. If I lived during this era, I would likely align with the Republicans. I believe that at the time, the government was too new and fragile to sustain a hierarchy of officials solely from the privileged upper class. The upper class does not represent the majority nor the broader population. Even though Jefferson came from a high society, I would fully support the ideas advocated by him and other Republicans, which prioritize the desires of the people rather than those of government officials or wealthy politicians in a functioning and equitable democracy.
That’s what defines this country – equality and inclusion for all. If it prioritized the wealthy, there would be no opportunity for others to vote or participate in any way. Although our current times differ greatly from the era of debates between Hamilton and Jefferson, the political parties’ history and the ideologies of their founders have undoubtedly influenced our nation’s present state. The fierce opinions and conflicting concepts that fueled the Hamilton and Jefferson debates ultimately led to significant transformations, predominantly credited to Hamilton. Nevertheless, understanding our country’s history teaches us the vital importance of learning from the past to create a better future.
