Bestselling author and president of the National Constitution Center Jeffrey Rosen explores the clashing visions of Hamilton and Jefferson about how to balance liberty and power, a debate that continues to define and divide the country: Jefferson championed states' rights and individual liberties, while Hamilton pushed for a strong Federal government and centralized finance system. The ongoing debate has shaped all the pivotal moments in American history, including Abraham Lincoln's fight against slavery and southern secession, the expansion of federal power under Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal, and Ronald Reagan's conservative push for limited government.
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