Unit 4 Essay

A.P. history

Unit 4 Essays

#18. Write your definition of democracy. Then use this to argue that Jefferson or Hamilton was the better spokesperson for democratic government in the 1790s.

Democracy is a word that represents principles of freedom, chosen by citizens to improve their cities and lives. It is often when the people of an area are the primary source of political power and are represented by elected representatives. Democracy is a word that is still to this day, misused and misinterpreted. Democracy is sometimes used as just a label politicians use to

gain support. Overall, democracy, in the words of Abraham Lincoln is a “government of the

people, by the people, for the people.”

Both Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson tried there best to be the better

democratic spokesperson in the 1790s. In attempt to this, Hamilton formed the Federalist Party,

and Thomas Jefferson set up the Democratic-Republican Party. Both men benefitted this

country and worked hard to set up democracy. However, I believe Jefferson did a better job as a

spokes person. By the end of 1816, Jefferson, and his trusted friend, James Madison, established

great democracy among the nation. The nation underwent a peaceful political change, and

strengthened its nationalistic and democratic spirit.

Jefferson stuck to the principle of having a limited central government. He shrunk the

size of the military to eliminate the chance of dictatorship. He lowered the national debt,

repealed the excise taxes, and ended a numerous amount of federal jobs. He also purchased

Louisiana Territory, which clashed with Hamilton’s views of having an industrial and urban

society. Jefferson envisioned for the country, an “agrarian society of independent farmers.”

Under Jefferson, the Democratic-Republican Party urged strict construction of the

Constitution. Hamilton’s