Jefferson Vs Hamilton Essay

Words: 510
Pages: 3

Two prominent founding fathers of America, Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, both had visions for future America. Although, they had differing hopes for how America would progress. The biggest difference between Hamilton and Jefferson was how the nation’s economy should be ran. Hamilton believed in a diverse economy based on manufacturing and unification. Jefferson believed that the nation should prosper with an agricultural economy based on farming and individuality. Clearly, these are two opposite visions for America. After Reconstruction the country was more similar to Alexander Hamilton’s vision because he believed in a strong army, a national government, and a national banking system. By the time of Reconstruction these things had …show more content…
During this time, the North was more industrial and the South was more agricultural due to their land. Jefferson’s vision of future America was more visible in the South before Reconstruction than it was after. The South was running their economy on agriculture but was still under government rule, not individual ruling. The Homestead Act of 1862, encouraged Western migration in exchange for land but they were required to work on the land for 5 years before receiving ownership of the land (Primary). This act was one that did portray Jefferson’s proposal of running an agricultural economy. Hamilton’s vision was more prominent in American after Reconstruction. The nation as a whole became an economic powerhouse overtime, and Hamilton’s proposals are portrayed through that. His propositions were prominent after Reconstruction due to the abolishment of slavery, the national banking system, a strong army, and a national government. The United States militants began in 1775, which was one of Hamilton’s propositions. After Reconstruction, the military had already been formed but with the North and South at conflicts with one another, it was impossible for them to unite. The following creation proposed by Hamilton was the national government, created in 1787 allowing for the protection of basic rights for American citizens. By 1863, the National Bank Act was ordered to