Jefferson vs. Hamilton

This is a clip from the HBO series "John Adams" It depicts a conversation between President Washington's cabinet members Alexander Hamilton (Treasury Sec.) and recently returned from France and Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, regarding Hamilton's proposed assumption of the revolutionary war debts of the individual States under the authority of the Federal government and the formation of a National bank. Effectively these are some of the fundamental and foundational ideological differences between the origins of the Democrat (known at the time as "Federalist") and Republican ("Democratic-Republican") parties.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• George Washington
• Thomas Jefferson
• John Adams
• Alexander Hamilton
• Constitution
• Republican
• Democrat
• History
• Colonial
• America
• Founding Fathers
• Economics

[kommiekazi]

you have some wrong information in your description.

the modern democratic party has its roots in the democratic-republican party (states' rights). the modern republican party has its roots in the federalist party (strong federal government). the two parties switched politics sometime between kennedy's and LBJ's presidencies.

remember that the south voted democrat up until the end of the 50s, while the northern states generally voted for the republicans during that time.

[bookfiend2009]

2nd time i have seen Rufus Sewell and Paul Giamatti in the same movie

[RexBlyCody]

Make that 4:35.

[RexBlyCody]

@4:37 Depressed Adams . . . XD

[TheApollo81]

@kommiekazi Actually, Republicans are for, if you check their website, are for small federal government. That's exactly what Thomas Jefferson wanted, and show in this clip. Democrats are for bigger federal government, which means more government involvement in our lives. Look at FDR with his "New Deal".

[Thetruenihilus]

@Trinity61 Jefferson was right in prediction of the banking institution and the corruption that would overflow from the federal government. Check and balances were the concern of Adams, which sadly are a joke of this time. I agree that people need a central government but at the sake of repeating what the American wanted to get away from. A inevitable pyramid scheme and pseudo monarchy, which is evident in the United States of America now.

[xjustin523x]

i could watch this series over and over again

[halfemptyspiral1]

@TheVenturino123 Adams wasnt bored with the politics ..He was bored with being named president of the Senate. Contrary to what youre saying, Adams, like all our Founders, actually wanted to be further involved in the political process..He hated being a do-nothing VP. He was a politician like the rest of them and he wanted to be able to put his 2 cents in. Thats why he had that look on his face.

[TheVenturino123]

in the end of this clip, it sounds like that typical politics that no one wants to here...just people yapping..even adams face has that look: "Fucking Politics" lol

[TheTaskmaster]

@TacticusPrime damn right

there will always be thinkers of the same sorts but you just won't recognize a political party at 50 years to 200 years previous, nor henceforth

..ok i've been reading too many historical figures' writings tonight :)

[Trinity61]

I tend to fall more on Jefferson's side, but I still respect Hamilton as a great intellectual and patriot.

Think about it: the guy was the bastard son of a Scottish drunkard and a West Indies prostitute, yet he still became a Founding Father and one of the greatest thinkers of his day. Pretty cool.