Who left a greater legacy?
Source Link #1 CSpan Video Library: http://www.c-spanarchives.org/program/Hamiltonv&showFullAbstract=1
Source Link #2: http://www.strangersgate.com/udhsweb/academics/a.p_history/a.p_u.s_history/old/notes_by_david_yu/hamilton_vs_jefferson.html
Source Link #3 Clip from movie John Adams: http://wn.com/Hamilton_Vs_Jefferson
Alexander Hamilton
Side Score: 19
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Thomas Jefferson
Side Score: 14
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Alexander Hamilton has left a greater legacy on our nation with his business-minded attitude, as well as his implications of business and money towards America. Thomas Jefferson was always a man for helping people's rights in the government, while Alexander Hamilton was one for politics and business. Hamilton believed that the government should not be entirely involved with the individual rights, but focussed on the actual role of banking, money, business and other political importances that should be brought upon in any government. Although Hamilton did grow up with his mother in poverty, he became a great politician that created America's banking system of today. Due to the fact that his legacy is something that has remained a part of our nation's past, present, and future, Thomas Jefferson's achievements don't match quite the same effects that Hamilton's did. Alexander Hamilton has left a greater legacy than Thomas Jefferson. Side: Alexander Hamilton
I like how you say, "a buisness-minded attitude". You're right, Hamilton was very focused on buisness and the "common man", but what is the common man? Well, the common man is someone who gets up every morning and goes to work, pays the bills, does the banking, works hard to make a name for himself and for his family. None of that would have been possible without Hamilton's ideas of banking, work ethic, and political importance. Good work Tiff! :) Side: Alexander Hamilton
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Alexander Hamilton left a greater legacy than Thomas Jefferson because even though Jefferson had more good achievements, Hamilton had a few great ones, which I think is equal to all of Jefferson's accomplishments. Hamilton basically invented the banking system which we still use today. He was the first Treasurer if the United States of America and he created a common national currency, despite the fact that the first decade of his life was spent dirt poor. He believed in hard work for success. Even though Jefferson was probably more pleasant to be around, Hamilton had stronger, more obvious opinions he believed in, and I think that is extremely important in a person. I have embedded the rap about him; check it out no mater which you voted for because even if it doesn't change you're views, its pretty cool considering it's about history. -Rachel M Alexander Hamilton Rap
Side: Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton: created our nations banking system off of debt which was at the time pure brilliance and it has, for the most part, held true to its originating reason of permanent debt; leading America to constantly be in debt has worked out in the long run all thanks to Hamilton. Who is Thomas Jefferson again? Side: Alexander Hamilton
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leg·a·cy /ˈlɛgəsi/ Show Spelled [leg-uh-see] Show IPA noun, plural -cies. 1. Law . a gift of property, esp. personal property, as money, by will; a bequest. 2. anything handed down from the past, as from an ancestor or predecessor: the legacy of ancient Rome. 3. an applicant to or student at a school that was attended by his or her parent. 4. Obsolete . the office, function, or commission of a legate. –adjective 5. of or pertaining to old or outdated computer hardware, software, or data that, while still functional, does not work well with up-to-date systems. Use legacy in a Sentence See images of legacy Search legacy on the Web --------------------------------------- Origin: 1325–75; ME legacie office of a deputy or legate < ML lēgātia. See legate, -acy —Synonyms 1, 2. inheritance. Well I decided to define"legacy" because I felt like it should be defined. As much as I agree with Jefferson and his ideas, I feel that Hamilton left a greater legacy because he fully shapes todays government. It's as simple as that. Jefferson had some good input with things, but I think Hamilton takes the gold medal on this argument. He had thoughts that were so beyond that time period, that they ended up coming to life. And to top it all off, Alexander Hamilton managed to be the famous picture on the ten dollar bill, while Thomas Jefferson only had his face on the two dollar bill. I can clearly see that in the money world, Hamilton meant more. Side: Alexander Hamilton
I think Alexander Hamilton left a greater legacy than Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson left a good legacy but it is no match for Hamilton's. The world we live in today was created by the ideas of Hamilton. There are few, or no, legacies that are greater than his. He was a financial genius who helped create great leaders and businessmen and his legacy lives on into the future. Side: Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton left a greater legacy. We live in the world he wanted. We have an industrial based economy unlike Jefferson's preferred agricultural economy. Although most learn of Jefferson before Hamilton because he was the third president of the United States of America Hamilton had a greater impact. He left such a great impact he is the ten dollar bill. -sandran Side: Alexander Hamilton
I like how you brought up the 10 dollar bill Sandra because then we can go into the fact that Alexander Hamilton is the only person on any of our money who was NOT a President! This is proof that he was in fact one of the most influential people of our nation, otherwise he would not be on our money. I also like how you talk about how most people are taught about Jefferson before Hamilton, which I don't agree with. They were both very important to our country, one in more effective ways than the other(Hamilton). Side: Alexander Hamilton
Why do you disagree with the fact that Jefferson is more well known than Hamilton? I believe that people need to be more educated on their government and it's history, and that Hamilton is a very important character that plays in it. But you can't deny that Jefferson wasn't important, either, being a president, purchasing half the US, and writing the Declaration of Independence. Side: Thomas Jefferson
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Alexander Hamilton left a greater legacy than Thomas Jefferson. Our current society is the proof and evidence of this. Are we not living in a Hamilton society? Look around! Hamilton was a strong believer in an industrial economy. Is that not what we commonly practice today? You can obviously see that Hamilton had a greater legacy. We ARE his legacy! Side: Alexander Hamilton
so·ci·e·ty /səˈsaɪɪti/ [suh-sahy-i-tee] noun, plural -ties, adjective –noun 1. an organized group of persons associated together for religious, benevolent, cultural, scientific, political, patriotic, or other purposes. 2. a body of individuals living as members of a community; community. 3. the body of human beings generally, associated or viewed as members of a community: the evolution of human society. 4. a highly structured system of human organization for large-scale community living that normally furnishes protection, continuity, security, and a national identity for its members: American society. Sylvie, our economy may be based on Hamilton's ideals, but our society is not based upon him. Our economy is his, but our society and common practices are not. We are not his legacy, for everyone has different beliefs. A legacy is anything handed down, like a belief. Those, like yourself, who strongly believe in Hamilton may be living his legacy, but those who don't, aren't. Those who strongly believe in Jefferson may be living his legacy. Side: Thomas Jefferson
Alexander Hamilton left a greater legacy in my opinion for many reasons. One is that we live mainly in Hamiltons vision, with a strong national government, an economy based on trading and manufacturing, and a national bank. Even though Jefferson was a good man and had good ideas, they wouldn't have benefitted this countries situation. Another reason is that in thought, Hamilton rose from the bottom of the food chain to the top of the country, leaving a trail of hope to those who wanted to make a difference in history. These are a few of the many reasons why Alexander was more influential and left a greater legacy. Side: Alexander Hamilton
I absolutely agree with you Reilley. Jefferson was a great man with great ideas that greatly impacted this country, but in my opinion more of Hamilton's ideas are still around. Hamilton was a common man, someone we can all relate to and Jefferson wasn't. He didn't have to push as hard or as long a Hamilton did in order to get to the top. That doesn't mean that he didn't work hard or that he wasn't a great influence on the way the United States is now, it just means that he disagreed with some of the essential ideas that make up this strong county. For example; aboloshing slavery, a modern economy, the idea of an army, the idea of a navy, the idea of a united government, and the idea of the President having certain powers. These are all ideas and concepts that we are using every day all of the time. Without Hamilton's wisdom and impact on our Constitution and the nation itself we would not have overcome these obsticles and these ideas would not have developed. Side: Alexander Hamilton
I believe that Alexander Hamilton left a greater legacy because of where he came from. Hamilton started as nothing, he was born into poverty and was orphanded as a young child. He wasn't expected to become anyone special or anyone important, but he did. At the age of twenty one he was Washington's right hand man, he was a genius! The idea of an American man was someone who came up from the bottom, someone who worked hard and was rewarded. Hamilton wanted to set up a government that would be strong and stable, not divided and flimsy. Without Hamilton's arguements towards unification we would never had been called the UNITED States of America, we would be called the STATES THAT KINDA WORK TOGETHER BUT ARE DISORGANIZED AND WEAK of America. Hamilton helped to establish an army and a navy that we still have protecting us at this very moment. He helped to establish a modern economy, an economy that would benefit as many people as possible, the farmers, the salesmen, the factory workers, the rich, the poor, everyone. Hamilton also helped to end slavery in New York and New Jersy. One of his famous quotes is, "...black people have facalty as good as ours..." Side: Alexander Hamilton
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I don't think that that is a legitimate arguement. You didn't include any facts, and you left several questions open and unclear. For example: -What "stuff" did Jefferson do? -Alexander Hamilton didn't only establish a banking system, so what other evidence proves Jefferson to be superior? -What do you mean Jefferson "gave us the western part of the U.S."? How has this affected us and why is that important? -What are some of the things that Jefferson invented? Are they still used today? My suggestion would be to next time, do your research and find something other than just "stuff" to make an arguement. If you are really trying to convince someone that Jefferson is better than Hamilton, that is. Side: Alexander Hamilton
Ultimately the majority of Jefferson's ideas became more inline with the spirit of our laws and system of government. Too often the Hamiltonian idea of the few holding greater influence over the many is what is actually practiced - as an example the recent horrible Supreme Court ruling that Corporations could hold unlimited financial influence over elections - while the common man still has a donation limit, completely backwards. One could say in practice, the Hamilton legacy at this point in time is stronger. But Jefferson's ideas are consistantly better and worth striving for. Side: Thomas Jefferson
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I apoligize, but someone is going to have to come up with an argument here before downvoting this comment. I only have 3 credits of US history, but my final paper was on Thomas Jefferson. Ask me for a specific with a link and I'll give it, or state your case. Side: Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson left a greater legacy than Alexander Hamilton because he supported the interests of the common man and his natural rights versus aiding business and not working to support the common man. Although the past of Hamilton was more relatable than the wealthy past of Jefferson, Hamilton did not stand up for what you would think he would believe in. He wanted to forget the past and want everyone to think that he had always been rich. Jefferson grew up with the moral that no one person is better than another, and he grew to value people for what they did, not what they had. "All men are created equal." Also, if Jefferson had never existed, how much different would the Declaration of Independence be? Would we ever get the western part of the U.S.? Side: Thomas Jefferson
I am commenting on side of Thomas Jefferson because he has less voters, but I am 100% torn between both Jefferson and Hamilton. A legacy is anything handed down from the past, and both Jeffersonian and Hamiltonian views have been handed down, both leaving a legacy. There are those that believe in Thomas Jefferson and his views, following his legacy. There are those that believe in Alexander Hamilton and his views, following his legacy. It is a continuous pattern. I don't believe there will ever be an answer to this question, for the answers are split among the people. There are only opinions, not answers. Thomas Jefferson handed down the Declaration of Independence, and while I am aware he was not the only mind in creating this historical document, I believe the document would not exist without him. If Jefferson had never had written this document, America would most likely still be under control of Britain, and Hamilton's legacy would have never taken place. Jefferson also had a larger impact on history than Hamilton. He was the 3rd president of the United States, and I doubt America would be even half the size it is now without him. He handed down the Louisiana Purchase to us, letting America's population and reputation grow. Thomas Jefferson created a political party with people that strongly believe in it, having an impact in the decisions made in our government today. His legacy is left in our political society. Alexander Hamilton handed down his idea of a modern economy, which is in use today. I do agree that we live, economically, in a Hamiltonian society. He created the national bank, and the idea that debt was necessary. His idea was that debt is good to have, so that, when paid off, trust can be ensured into thee. Our America is in enormous debt, but debt nonetheless. The Louisiana Purchase also could not have taken place without Hamilton's economy, for that is what it was carried out on. His ideals have carried on through our federal government, as with Jefferson's. He created a political party with people that strongly believe in it, having an impact on the decisions made in our government today. His legacy is left in our society, as well. -Kaysie L Side: Thomas Jefferson
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