a) Hamilton and Jefferson

The rivalry between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson shaped the dynamics among America’s founding fathers and the early political landscape of the United States. Their conflicting visions for the nation’s future—Hamilton’s advocacy for a strong central government and Jefferson’s preference for states’ rights and agrarianism—fostered the development of the first American political parties. This rivalry not only influenced immediate policy decisions but also set the stage for ongoing debates about the nature and direction of the American republic. The Hamilton-Jefferson rivalry remains a defining element of early American political history.