Would Millennials Actually Support Alexander Hamilton?

Would Millennials Actually Support Alexander Hamilton?

Below is an essay I wrote contrasting the views of Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. I hope you enjoy. -Nickolas Bovitz

Alexander Hamilton is trendy to many young people because of the famous musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda and their stance against slavery. Yet many young people would find it conflicting that Hamilton also supported a strong elitist society. Hamilton wanted a government by the people, but he was also equally skeptical of the people’s political competencies. This raises Hamilton's concern on how much direct power the people should or should not have.

    Hamilton shows this by how he wanted the President to be elected. He wanted the Electors to decide the votes for us. Hamilton said in his own words that, “His election to be made by Electors chosen by Electors chosen by the people in the election districts aforesaid” (“Alexander Hamilton’s Plan of Government”). His vision was for the people to vote for Electors, and then the electors make the decisions for us. We see this vision being played out today with the Electoral College the United States has. This allows for a democracy, but also allows for an elite person to decide matters that the general public may not have full knowledge of, or have time to devote themselves to. 

    Hamilton also went as far as Electors deciding on who will be the Senators of the States. He wanted the Senators to be “elected by the Electors” (“Alexander Hamilton’s Plan of Government”). This would mean the people could vote for the Electors, but it is ultimately up to the Electors to decide the Senators for us. The American people today would not agree on not having a direct vote on deciding our Senators. This is why the 17th Amendment in 1913 changed “chosen by the Legislative thereof” to “elected by the people thereof” (“Direct Election of Senators”). Many Americans today would find it strange that having a direct vote is relatively recent, and that Hamilton was one of the Framers that supported an indirect democracy.

Madison argued against Hamilton about how faithful the representation of the elite would be towards the people. Madison explained that it is unwise to think that an elite representative would fully understand the people’s interest and “render them all subservient to the public good” (“The Federalist Papers”). This shows that some other Framers were skeptical of Hamiltion’s support of an elitist society, and if it is truly what is best for the people. Hamilton also believed that people were ruled by their passions, and that a pure democracy would lead to the destruction of the United States government (Sheehan). It is important though to understand that both Madison and Hamilton were Federalist that contributed to The Federalist Papers, and they shared a fear of too much democracy leading to mob control. Even with that noted, the Framers also knew when to confront Hamilton when they felt he went too far. Jefferson argued that Hamilton’s ideas encourage economic inequality and work against the “the ordinary American” (Openstax, p.216). Hamilton had ambitions to make the United States a powerful and successful nation, but did not have the needs of the many in mind. I think that Hamilton was under the impression that the common citizen does not know what is best for them, and the elite in society would have to make the hard choices for us. 

    Hamilton’s vision of America has a lot of political restriction because of his fear of people being self-interested or led by their passions. This is why Hamilton wanted the people to vote for Electors, but not to have a direct say in every vote. If humans are easily swayed by their passions, then it was feared that people could make rash decisions not based on logic.  Hamilton is noted for saying harsh rhetoric about how men “are vicious” or “ we suppose mankind more honest than they are” (Rosano, p.68). Hamilton felt that people put too much faith in the goodness of humanity. This means that if Hamilton had a general mistrust of humans, it would make sense why he did not want the people to have direct control. He instead wanted “ a few choice spirits” that “act from more worthy motives” (Rosano, p.68). I feel an important question to ask is “who gets to decide what is a worthy motive, or who is a good person?” There is an understandable fear of mob rule by the Framers, but also an understandable fear of an elite, disconnected government that rules the public. People did not want a small group making decisions for them, but Hamilton felt that the people did not always understand what is best for them. Hamilton made this clear by saying “our real disease… is democracy” (Ferling). This is a concerning viewpoint, because if we lose complete faith in the people, I feel we can not truly be a country of the people, or by the people. 

    I think that young Americans may be surprised that they would have supported Jefferson’s and Madison’s Democratic-Republican Party and oppose or even strongly oppose Hamilton’s Federalist Party. Today we take for granted the idea of individual freedom and rights of the States. A very strong central government that is ruled by the elite is a modern fear for America. I feel that most young Americans would not support Hamilton’s vision for America. Young Americans today emphasize how dangerous it is to have disconnected wealthy elites that do not share the interest of the general public. Most Americans of all ages understand the importance of having congressmen and congresswomen that represent our needs. It should infuriate the general public when our representatives no longer advocate for us, but instead serve the interests of other wealthy elites. 

    Even though Hamilton has had some radical, centrist ideas that failed in favor for the Democratic-Republican Party, it is still important to recognize his influence. Having a stronger federal government has made us a more powerful, organized, and wealthy nation. We now have important establishments such as our central bank. Having a central bank is something most people would not care for, or even felt it reminded them too much of England. Yet, Hamilton pushed for it anyways because of the economic wealth and credibility it would give the United States in the future. So it is necessary for well-educated representatives to serve the people. It is also necessary for the people to have a voice on who these representatives should be. Hamilton went too far in assuming people’s political incompetencies, and their ability to know what is best for them. At the same time, he was right that certain unfavorable things had to be done to make America an established and successful nation. The Federalist Party dissolving and never returning shows that it was not favorable to the people, and that there was a better middle ground. The people instead leaned towards the Democratic-Republican Party because of its balance. It showed the middle road between a strong central government, and representing the needs of the people, and hearing their voices as credible concerns. 

Overall, we can see Hamilton’s vision for America has tremendous impact on our modern-day government. The United States has a central bank that issues bonds domestically and around the globe. We also have well-educated congressmen and congresswomen that make informed decisions for us. America also sees where Hamilton’s vision did not succeed. Americans now vote directly for their Senators, and Americans seek to have their needs and desires represented honestly. America stands up for democracy, and speaks up when they feel the wealthy elite are only serving their own personal interests. Even though America still has an Electoral College, we still technically vote directly for our President. Hamilton may be trendy, but it is important to understand his historical views and how they impact Americans to this very day.  

Work Cited

Alexander Hamilton’s Plan of Government; 6/18/1787; Papers of David Brearley; Official Records of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, 1785 - 1787; Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, Record Group 360; National Archives Building, Washington, DC.

“Direct Election of Senators.” U.S. Senate: Direct Election of Senators, 10 Jan. 2020, 

Ferling, John. “Presidents' Day Special: Thomas Jefferson's Take on Hamilton.” Time, Time, 15 Feb. 2016, 

OpenStax, openstax.org/details/books/us-history.

Rosano, Michael J. "Liberty, Nobility, Philanthropy, and Power in Alexander Hamilton's Conception of Human Nature." American Journal of Political Science 47, no. 1 (2003): 

Sheehan, Colleen A. “Madison v. Hamilton: The Battle Over Republicanism and the Role of Public Opinion: American Political Science Review.” Cambridge Core, Cambridge University Press, 1 Aug. 2004, 

The Federalist Papers - Congress.gov Resources - Congress.gov Resources,