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5 points

Both Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson had good beliefs when it comes to the future of America. While I agree with many aspects of Jefferson's beliefs regarding the common people, Hamilton had much better ideas for the government, Constitution, and economy.

While Thomas Jefferson had many views that would help protect the people, Alexander Hamilton had great views on how to run the government. Alexander Hamilton devoured a strong central government. At the Constitutional Convention in 1787, Hamilton argued that neither the New Jersey Plan, nor the Virginia Plan would work for the current situation. He believed that the government should be divided into three branches. Division of the government into three branches would allow for none of the branches to become too powerful. He believed that the best government for the United States would be a national government that had complete political authority. He disliked states governments, and believed that, in a perfect union, there would be no states at all. Hamilton drafted a plan for a new, centralized national government, that would still allow states to retain their individuality and basic rights. He carefully drafted this plan, combining what he thought where all the best aspects from successful governments across the globe.

Not only did Hamilton have better views to establish a strong government, he had better views on interpreting the Constitution. Jefferson believed in a strict interpretation on the Constitution, and wanted a Bill of Rights, which he believed could only be granted under the Constitution. Alexander Hamilton believed in a loose interpretation of the Constitution, but that didn't stop him from co-authoring a series of essays in support of the it, known as The Federalist Papers. Hamilton believed that if the Constitution did not forbid something, then it should be permitted. A strict interpretation leaves no room for the future, as technology and culture progresses. With only a strict interpretation, the Constitution would constantly have to be modified to fit the developing world.

In addition to Hamilton's views on the government and Constitution, he had better ideas for the basis of the economy. Hamilton wanted a balanced economy based on agriculture, trade, finance, and manufacturing. Jefferson thought that agriculture should be the backbone of the economy. While agriculture is important to the economy, an economy focusing solely on agriculture would be very unstable. For example, if there was a very dry or cold season, crops would fail. With only agriculture to support the economy, the economy would suffer. Hamilton believed in a more modern economy, so that if a certain aspect failed, the economy could still remain strong.



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