EPISODE · Apr 20, 2026 · 33 MIN
The Pursuit of Liberty: How Hamilton vs. Jefferson Ignited the Lasting Battle Over Power in America
from For the Ages: A History Podcast · host The New York Historical
The argument over states’ rights versus a strong federal government is far from a new debate in this country. Before the divisions of today, two men represented contrasting visions of what America could be: Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. Jefferson believed in individual liberties and limited federal power, while Hamilton promoted a strong national government. Their rivalry helped shape the nation’s earliest political battles and continues to echo through American politics, influencing leaders from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Donald Trump. In conversation with David M. Rubenstein, Jeffrey Rosen explores how the competing ideas of Jefferson and Hamilton still define the constitutional debates at the heart of American democracy today.Recorded on March 12, 2026
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The argument over states’ rights versus a strong federal government is far from a new debate in this country. Before the divisions of today, two men represented contrasting visions of what America could be: Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. Jefferson believed in individual liberties and limited federal power, while Hamilton promoted a strong national government. Their rivalry helped shape the nation’s earliest political battles and continues to echo through American politics, influenci...
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The Pursuit of Liberty: How Hamilton vs. Jefferson Ignited the Lasting Battle Over Power in America
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