Student Question
Does today's United States resemble more of Hamilton's or Jefferson's vision for American society?
Quick answer:
Today's United States reflects elements of both Hamilton's and Jefferson's visions. Economically, it aligns more with Hamilton's vision of a commercial and industrial society, rather than Jefferson's agrarian ideal. However, in terms of political and social equality, the U.S. has achieved a level of equality that Jefferson sought, despite not being a society of small farmers. Thus, the U.S. embodies Hamilton's economic model alongside Jefferson's ideals of equality.
Both. Economically, we are definitely a society that resembles what Hamilton would have wanted. We are certainly not an agrarian society like Jefferson envisioned. But we do have much more political and social equality than Hamilton would have wanted. Jefferson wanted an agrarian society so we could all (at least all white men) be equal. We seem to have, for the most part, achieved the equality even though we are far removed from a society of small farmers.
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