Comparing Madisonian, Jeffersonian, and Hamiltonian Democracy (Essay Sample)

Comparing and Contrasting Madisonian, Jeffersonian, and Hamiltonian Democracy
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Comparing and Contrasting Madisonian, Jeffersonian, and Hamiltonian Democracy
Madison, Jefferson, and Hamilton some of the most important Founding Fathers of the US. Their views on democracy shaped US politics to this day. During their political time they had different specific views that they all believed were necessary for the progress of the new nation. All support protection of individual liberties, upholding of the Constitution, and separation of powers. However, Hamilton supported a stronger central government constituting nominated elite officials as well as centralized bank and centralized military. Even though Madison also supported nominated officials, he supported less powerful federal government as Jefferson, and a more explicit interpretation of the Constitution.
Madisonian, Jeffersonian, and Hamiltonian types of democracies all stressed the importance of liberty. Their supporters believed that liberty was essential for individual progress as well as the progress of the new nation. Madison, Jefferson, and Hamilton all agreed that liberty was necessary for the progress of the nation. They all believed that the government played a key role in protecting people’s freedom (Krause, 2015). All of them spoke and wrote openly about matters concerning liberty, including ways of keeping liberty strong, how it could be taken away or violated, and how it could be lost. All agreed that both state and federal government had a huge responsibility in protecting liberty. Jefferson claimed that the liberties of the US and the freedom its civil constitution are worth defending against all hazards. He also claimed that it is the duty of the government to defend it against all attacks. Similarly, Hamilton argued that freedom is worth granted than any other thing. “I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” (Cronin, 2016). Madison also argued that taking away people’s liberty is like leading them blindly. “If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent, we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter” (Krause, 2015). Therefore, to all these Founding Fathers, liberty was an essential aspect of a democracy to the new nation.
Apart from emphasizing liberty and freedom, all these Founding Fathers democratic approach harbored concerns about the future of the US. They all believed attempted presented ideas that they believed could help the country progress and advance. They all applied argumentation and discourse to persuade opinion in their favor (Krause, 2015). Additionally, Madisonian, Hamiltonian, and Jeffersonian democracy emphasized the importance of defending the constitution. All these Founding Father believed that the Constitution was the supreme law of the land. All government duties and responsibilities as well as those of the civilians were to be guided by the constitution. All these Founding Fathers played key role in the creation and ratification of the US Constitution. Besides, they supported the separation of power
Despite those similarities, these three forms of democracies differed greatly. Both Jeffersonian and Madisonian democracy advocated for a less powerful central government, and a stronger state government. They viewed a strong central government as a potential source of tyranny because it goes against the people’s will (Ginsberg et al., 2018). They both opposed monarchism and aristocracy as they believed these government systems infringed on individual liberties. However, Hamiltonian democracy stressed a more powerful central government. Hamilton believed that a strong federal government was essential in individual liberties. Hamiltonian democracy, mirrored British monarchy, which had a more powerful central government. Hamilton believed that the British form of government was the best in the world.
In terms of the military, both Hamilton and Madison supported a powerful federal army to defend the US from external attack and making the central government strong. They also believed that the central government should be in charge of negotiating foreign treaties and other foreign policies. However, Jefferson believed that state army could stabilize the government and strong army would only be necessary for defending the country from external attack (Cronin, 2016). Economically, both Jefferson and Madison opposed federal banks to help the country overcome economic crisis. On the other hand, Hamilton supported establishment of federal banks and he believed this approach could help the country recover from debt crisis.
Even though Hamiltonian democracy supported the Constitution, it gave leeway for future leaders in interpreting the constitution. According to this democracy, loose interpretation of the Constitution would allow the central government assume multiple roles not specifically listed in the Constitution, including economic policy decisions (Ginsberg et al., 2018) However, both Jeffersonian and Madisonian democracy believed in upholding the Constitution. They believed that this approach would limit power abuse from government officials.
Besides, all the three types of democra