Jefferson Vs Hamilton: Confrontations That Shaped A Nation (Book Review Sample)

Jefferson Vs Hamilton: Confrontations That Shaped A Nation
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This book documents the studies of Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, focusing on their diverging views on society and the government in the infant years of the American nation. From my reading, I have learnt that the book is actually a collection of not less than 40 documents, which have been developed into 7 chronological chapters. The lives of the two men are followed, right from their youth, then during the Revolutionary war to Hamilton’s death in 1804. The book’s plot development is such that, in every chapter, there are excerpts from these two men’s public papers as well as their private letters. These papers and letters reveal the men’s often differing views, not only on the government but also on the constitution. Differences are also brought out vividly on these men’s discordant views on the military, foreign and economic policy and illustrate their roles in the coming up of political parties.
Prior to reading this particular book, I admit that I could only have listed the basic facts on Thomas Jefferson. In addition, I had a vague idea about the person of Alexander Hamilton and his contributions as one of America’s founding fathers. Now I know better. Both of them could foresee this nation as a future super power. What differed was each individual’s map on how to get the country there. For instance, on the one hand, Jefferson preferred an agricultural nation, whose power resided in the states (Noble 2007, p. 32). The book clearly highlights his opposition to a centralized authority. On the other hand, Hamilton emphasizes a strong centralized authority that would provide order to enable business and industries grow. The book clearly cuts an industrialist figure in Hamilton. Unlike Jefferson, Hamilton was for the idea that the government ought to be run by the educated and the wealthy and not by the "mob.”
Any lover of American history and politics would surely be interested knowing how the different political parties evolved. After reading this particular book, I was able to get to the root of this. It was the conflict between Jefferson and Hamilton that gave rise to the political parties system (Noble 2007, p. 53). This conflict polarized the factions on the divergent political sides.
The book shows the evidence that both men had a good vision for future America. Towards the end of the book, it is likely that any critical reader would find it important to evaluate the two men’s views. To me, I can not, in definite terms; state whether either of the two views was better or worse for the American nation. However, if I were to make a choice between Jefferson and Hamilton, I would most probably be inclined towards Hamilton’s view. This is not to say that Jefferson’s ideas were entirely wrong, though. In the book, Hamilton comes out as a strong, visionary industrialist. Moreover, he advocates a centralized authority and this idea were credited with ...