In this essay, I will mention some important points as to why Alexander Hamilton was the most iconic figures in American History and why The Federalist Party is beneficial for the United States. The party dissolved after Hamilton’s death caused by Aaron Burr which eventually lead to the rise of the Democrat and Republican party. Today, we will try our best to educate you on what benefits The Federalist Party would bring if it were to be implemented into our current form of government in the United States. Economically, the Hamiltonian Federalist ideology leans on the center-right of the political spectrum. It is debatable if whether the ideology is authoritarian or libertarian on the political spectrum. However, as I’ve read a little bit of the Federalist it would be logical to classify it as a moderate authoritarian ideology as The Federalist Papers summarizes the need for a stronger central government. Significantly, the written documents by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay are all advocating for a union in which liberty is protected by justified authority. To put it in another way, justified authority does not advocate for a dictatorship, a totalitarian society, nor corruption. Coupled with that, a reform in the constitution can be necessary in terms of enforcing isolationist policies and a national bank. It can be gone in both ways where you are either a Libertarian Federalist or Authoritarian Federalist provided with the fact that there is both authority and liberty being promoted in the Federalist (though most libertarians prefer Jeffersonian Liberty than Hamiltonian Federalism). Above all, I will briefly explain a short biography of Alexander Hamilton and why he founded The Federalist Party.
Alexander Hamilton was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States Constitution who was one of the most influential people during and after the American Revolutionary. Born on January 11th of either 1755 or 1757 (exact date is unknown according to the sources that I found), Hamilton grew up in Charlestown on the island of Nevis which is located off the Caribbean. At a young age of 12, he worked his very first job as a clerk for a store and some sources claim that according to his employer, he was excellent at what he did in terms of getting his expected tasks complete. Notably, he had the largest goals set aside later on his life that he would want to accomplish. In 1773, he was sent to King’s College of New York where he studied law and politics. His knowledge of the British and American government was excellent, and he became more contributed to political involvement so much to the point where he cared about that more than his academics. It was the year 1775 when Hamilton left his college to fight in the Revolutionary War. He was a captain of the New York Provincial Company of Artillery where he brought along the most impeccable skills and tactics along with him. His best actions served in the Battle of Yorktown, Virginia where he simultaneously attacked a rebout (basically an enclosed fort) with his regiment. His tactics were unique to the point where George Washington recognized his militaristic skills. Aside from his service in the Revolutionary War, he was talented in writing documents. Right after the war ended, Hamilton went back to New York continuing to study law. George Washington, a leader yet to become the first President of the United States recognized his ability to write influential documents.
After the Revolutionary War, Alexander Hamilton was appointed to Congress to represent the state of New York. However shortly afterwards, he resigned from Congress as he wanted to practice law. Probably the most important accomplishment of Hamilton onward was authoring The Federalist Papers which advocated for a strong centralized government defining the artworks of nationalism. During that time, the Articles of Confederation were officially passed out which was considered to be the weakest form of government there was. It lacked the power to pass laws, collect taxes, form treaties, declare wars, and of course strengthen the economy. Thomas Jefferson, another Founding Father who is the opposition of Hamilton advocated for the Articles of Confederation. Under Jefferson, the economy was laissez-faire to the extreme with little to no justified authority over industrialism and the banks. Without a strong central government with justified authority, there would be no such thing as an economy as it would simply be non-existent. In terms of leadership, Thomas Jefferson, in my opinion is not the ideal leader of America. His reference in the Declaration of Independence on “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” is not directly followed by the man himself. According to some sources, he has owned up to nearly 600 slaves across multiple plantations. With this being said, there are many reasons as to why Jefferson was an absolute hypocrite. Alexander Hamilton on the other hand, opposed slavery and had the ambition to abolish slavery. He himself was a nationalist unlike Jefferson who only cared for individualism and wanted to protect the financial stability of every citizen while he united them at the same time. He served both in the Revolutionary War and participated in the making of the US Constitution. In fact, Madison, Jay, and Hamilton all were in favor of opposing slavery although Madison simply stated that if you own slaves then you must care for them. In a coincidence, all of these great men have vowed to become authors to what is known as The Federalist Papers.
The Federalist Papers, as mentioned earlier in this essay is a set of multiple documents directed by Alexander Hamilton which implemented the meaning of nationalism in his and the other authors’ papers. Hamilton himself wrote about two thirds of the entire book while Madison and Jay wrote the rest. We know that the Federalist ideology advocates for nationalism and a stronger government, but there are more reasons explaining why we should strive for a better government. Here are five simple, yet specific based points that were made in The Federalist Papers so far with what I’ve read:
1. Measures of safety is determined by how a nation is involved with the works of foreign affairs. The more involved the government and the people are with wars, the more divided a nation becomes both economically and socially. If the people of America are unwillingly going to war, that would fully diminish the nationalist value of a nation. The economy can greatly suffer if America is more involved in foreign affairs than their own people.
2. Jealousy between states can rise if one or the other is given more leniency. The result of this (according to John Jay) is catastrophic. The jealousies can form tensions which would result into a Civil War. In other words, jealousy between bordering states rise to a point where conflicts may break out.
3. The interests of the nation is much more significant than the individual. Now, before many of you accuse this statement, understand that the Federalist ideology is neither collective or individualist which means that their standpoint must be in between. In reference to Shay’s Rebellion and the interests of commerce, this point may conclude that if debtors are too desperate for money, then they must not fall under the hands of commerce and lenders as the debt may pile up over time from interest. Basically, loan lenders have cared more for their profit than the financial status of their people. Therefore, the conclusion of this point is that commerce has possibly favored the interests of their profit rather than the interests of the people as a whole.
4. If neighboring states can form a union with each other, there will be national progression and calamity.
The cause of national debt is and always will be the use of credit. The interests of the people are completely ignored in many ways because creditors inherit payments to gain profit as much as possible unjustly. However, those payments are too large to the point where the national debt as a whole increases while only the individual creditors are benefiting from money.
My final verdict on Federalism is that I believe this ideology can save America from its financial problems to this day. Unfortunately we have Anti-Federalists who simply run around with their heads chopped off thinking that their liberty is being taken away. That is the utter most ignoramus excuse to be brought up. If you think liberty is important, then you should consider encouraging the works of Federalism as it can save you from multi-billionaire corporations and the devilish works of national debt. Federalism, it being in between a collective and an individual society ensures that supporters of both sides are satisfied which will reunite the United States.
SOURCES:
“Alexander Hamilton.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 9 Jan. 2019, www.biography.com/people/alexander-hamilton-9326481.
“Biography of Alexander Hamilton.” Ushistory.org, Independence Hall Association, www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/served/hamilton.html.
“Why Hamilton-Not Jefferson-Is the Father of the American Economy.” Fortune, Fortune, fortune.com/2016/02/16/hamilton-jefferson-economy-america/.
Kennedy, Lesley. “How Alexander Hamilton's Men Surprised the Enemy at the Battle of Yorktown.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 14 Nov. 2018, www.history.com/news/alexander-hamilton-battle-yorktown-revolutionary-war.
Kelly, Martin, et al. “Why the Articles of Confederation Failed.” Thoughtco., Dotdash, www.thoughtco.com/why-articles-of-confederation-failed-104674.
Coard, Michael. “10 Things You Should Know About Thomas Jefferson* Before You Tour 'Slavery at Jefferson's Monticello'.” Welcome | Philadelphia Magazine, Philadelphia Magazine, 11 Apr. 2014, www.phillymag.com/news/2014/04/11/10-facts-thomas-jefferson-slavery-at-jeffersons-monticello-national-constitution-center/.
^(This is used as a general source as it is slightly opinionated, not a direct source)
“The Dark Side of Thomas Jefferson.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 1 Oct. 2012, www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-dark-side-of-thomas-jefferson-35976004/.
“Slavery and the Founding Fathers.” The American Revolutionary War, www.revolutionary-war.net/slavery-and-the-founding-fathers.html.
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