The Battle Herd 'Round America

In this chapter, we get a different perspective on the clash between Jefferson and Hamilton, or as it is also known as the battle between the Federalist and the Anti-Federalist. This is the first introduction to America’s first political parties. Looking back at this skirmish retrospectively, we see it as the battle that helps formed the nation we currently live in, but this was no light-hearted moment for either Jefferson or Hamilton. The stark differences between their viewpoints are clearly visible with Hamilton view of an American system that is closely related to England that is centered mostly on manufacturing. Whereas Jefferson wanted no likeness to Britain and he sees America’s future through agriculture.

While Hamilton’s idea of a national bank is on the verge of being completed and he is campaigning his idea of factories in America. Jefferson is putting all his money on one single plant. The native sugar maple. This native sugar maple is supposed to be the plant that is supposed to stop America’s dependence on Britain for sugar. Although independence from Britain was a plus, this plant had the ability to be easily harvest which will cut down on the use of slaves having to do the work and it had visual scenery that was pretty to look at. So in Jefferson eyes, this was the perfect plant to combat Hamilton’s plans of industries.

As the fight between Jefferson and Hamilton continued to great lengths and Jefferson continuing tedious trade negations with Britain are continue to mount stress on him , Jefferson saw his upcoming trip with Madison as a temporarily escape from the ensuing battle, but also as a trip to attain inspiration. It still amazes me how these top political leaders would turn to taken botanical trips as a place of comfort from all the stress currently in their lives. Their botanical trips can be compared to vacationing at the beach as the ideal getaway spot. But while on their tour, Jefferson still had business to take care of, especially in the form of the native sugar maple where he traveled to Bennington, Vermont to learn more about sugar maples which were very common in that area. The second part of his sugar maple tour was very critical because that is where he purchased as many sugar maple as he could and had them planted. Although, Jefferson plan failed because the sugar maple did not produce the results he wanted, this setback did not stop Jefferson from continuing to push agriculture as the future of this newly formed country.

But from Jefferson and Madison ordeal came one of the powerful alliance between the two. Their stance against Hamilton cemented the foundation of the newly formed Republican Party. And their love for plants did not hurt their friendship either, because plants to them were the reminder of their vision of the United States. A vision that is still seen to this present day.