What attitude did they have for each other Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton
Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton had a tense and adversarial relationship. They held contrasting views on government, with Jefferson favoring a decentralized agricultural society and Hamilton advocating for a strong central government and industrial development. This fundamental difference in ideology led to a deep animosity between them.
Jefferson viewed Hamilton as a monarchist and elitist who wanted to establish a privileged ruling class. He saw Hamilton's economic plans, such as creating a national bank, as benefiting only the wealthy few at the expense of the common citizen. Jefferson believed strongly in the virtues of agrarianism and believed that Hamilton's policies threatened the independence of farmers and the democratic foundations of the country.
Hamilton, on the other hand, regarded Jefferson as an idealistic and naive thinker, who romanticized an outdated agrarian lifestyle. He saw Jefferson's opposition to a strong central government as a threat to the stability and progression of the nation. Hamilton viewed Jefferson's political beliefs as jeopardizing the long-term economic future of the United States and impeding its ability to compete globally.
Their rivalry became more pronounced during the Washington administration, where they served as Secretary of State (Jefferson) and Secretary of the Treasury (Hamilton). They clashed on a variety of policy issues, including foreign relations, fiscal policy, and the balance of power between the federal government and the states.
Overall, their attitudes towards each other were characterized by deep distrust and animosity. Their opposing visions for America and their different philosophies on governance set them on diverging paths that ultimately led to the formation of political factions and the development of party politics in the United States.