Jefferson’s Trump Card

                                                    

In a previous blog, I discussed the clash between Jefferson and Hamilton and how that conflict became the first introduction to America’s political parties. Both of these men had big ideas for America, although their ideas were complete opposite of each other, Hamilton ideas is gaining more traction with the completion of his idea of a national bank. Jefferson has a lot of respect for Hamilton, but not his idea of making America industrialize like Britain; therefore, Jefferson had no choice but to combat Hamilton ideas with an idea of his on, his trump card: The Sugar Maple.

The sugar maple had a multitude of qualities that spark Jefferson’s interest in it. It could be grown on a small scale farm instead of a plantation because it does not require slaves to help harvest it. The native sugar maple also provided beautiful scenery
when its leaves changed colors for the fall. Jefferson preferred the beauty and serenity of nature over the smog and nastiness that Hamilton’s plans of industrialization would do to this newly formed country. Jefferson also had the view that the Sugar Maple could be a great export for the United States and ultimately lower and eventually stop America’s dependence of Britain for sugarcane that were imported from the West Indies.

Jefferson understood that having something like the Sugar Maple as his trump card in a battle against Hamilton would make him look ridiculous amongst his peers. On one side you would have Hamilton who is advocating industrial growth and job creation for the country compared to Jefferson who is advocating a plant. Really Jefferson, a plant, how would a plant really change the landscape of a country like industry would? With that kind of vision in mind, Jefferson knew it would be an uphill battle to get support for his idea, which is why Jefferson understood that before he goes about advocating the idea of the sugar maple to the country he first needed to know everything he can about the plant itself. As a result, Jefferson went on a tour of New England to research the sugar maple plant.

On Jefferson’s tour of New England, there were 2 specific stops that were very influential to the promotion of the native sugar maple. The first stop was in Bennington, Vermont at the home of Moses Robinson. Robinson’s home was declared to be located in the heart of the sugar maple country. Robinson was eager to help Jefferson learn more about the sugar maple by answering the many questions that Jefferson had about the plant. We see here at this stop just how important this crop was to Jefferson as it was undoubtedly the most important thing on his mind. The second stop that was very influential was the stop at Prince William’s nursery. While at the nursery, Jefferson purchased every sugar maple tree he could, and he would have them planted in different areas in the region to try and begin the start of his plan. Unfortunately, Jefferson did not get the success he wanted because of climate conditions, and this result was making Jefferson trump card seem like a dud.

One can easily say that Jefferson had an obsession with the Native Sugar Maple, but his obsession was particularly not in the Sugar Maple but in the idea of having a country that was based on agriculture not industry. Jefferson did not want this new country to look anything like Britain, and advocating industry like Hamilton was doing was going to make America look like Britain Jr. Therefore Jefferson obsession in the Sugar Maple had more to do with the fear of America becoming more like Britain and industries having a negative effect on the people of America by them forgetting how important agriculture can be to this country. Jefferson found happiness and relaxation along with a political instrument to fight Hamilton, his idea of industries, and Britain. His strive to learn everything there was to know about the Sugar Maple tree and the planting of as many trees as he could, although not as successful as hoped, demonstrates Jefferson’s devotion to the future of the United States as an Agricultural nation. It is astonishing to think that a plant such as the Sugar Maple tree was a very crucial idea that almost had the power to change our economic and political landscape.