| Five Errors in Thinking |
| Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson were on opposing sides of the argument about the role of national government and state government and the rights delegated to each. Their debates, between these two very intelligent and well educated individuals, could have looked something like the following conversation. "In order for America to have any lasting peace, it is our obligation to the people of America to form a strong central government on which to found our nation. Only this way will we find any lasting peace. It will protect America both economically and from attacks from forgien powers. If we are divided amoungst ourselfs we will never gain international influence and we will fall." -Hamilton "Our country does not need to have a strong central government. To replace one oppressive form with another is outrageous. If our country can make it through the perils of the revolution with just an idea of a nation, I am confident that it can survive without the establishment of a central government that has absolute authority."-Jefferson (Non Sequitor, just because the nation has survived the Revolution without a central government does not mean they can survive forever without one.) "All men were created equal. We must trust the common crowd with our new government and permit males to vote for officials in the government."-Jefferson "It is a common fact that men make mistakes, so why would a country want to rely on men who have made the most mistakes? The men who make the least mistakes are those of the educated class, the only ones who are worthy enough to participate in government."-Hamilton (False or Vauge Premisses) Hamilton's argument is to wide ranging and generalizes about the population of America that they are uneducated and make mistakes often. "I believe the British government forms the best model the world has ever produced."-Hamilton "Mr. Hamilton could be one of the most ignorant individuals on the planet."-Jefferson (Ad hominum) Jefferson ignores Hamilton's argument and just attacks Hamilton. "The country would be best suited with establishing a government in which the states were given more power than the central government. The British system was a strong government and the were the most curropt government created. "Our country needs a strong central government in order for their to be any lasting form of an efficeint government."- Hamilton (Begging the Question) Hamilton tries to expalin that his need of a strong government because the US needs a strong government. "The comomon people cannot be trusted with the responsibility of participation in government, it is too great a challenge for the in competant man, so only the competant should be allowed to participate."-Hamilton "Government should always be made for the people. That is the point of the government to protect the people."-Jefferson (Red Herring) Jefferson does not address the argument of Hamilton but rather talks about how governments are made for the people and does not talk of the compotensy of the common people. |
| By: Nick Herman |