Hamilton loudly and often advocated a central bank, national debt and active federal government. - Edit 1
Before modification by Joel at 01/09/2012 08:48:00 PM
Both were talking about the first steps of government.....everything was tiny and small about the federal government, well, until FDR. So I wouldn't classify either as "big government".
But yes, Jefferson as President did greatly grow the federal government and the power of the Presidency. So.....
But yes, Jefferson as President did greatly grow the federal government and the power of the Presidency. So.....
That is a matter of record whether you buy it or not. Jefferson opposed big government so strongly he nearly rejected the Louisiana Purchase because Congress only authorized $5 million to buy New Orleans, not $15 million to buy a third of the continental US. Jefferson founded the Democratic-Republican Party to oppose Hamiltons Federalists and their platform of strong active federalism; that, once again, is a matter of well documented record: Disputing it is denying US history.