The political feud between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson was not a secret. The two men had numerous differing opinions about how the government and the country's finances should be controlled. These differences did not emerge while in Washington's cabinet, but instead they had been arguing these issues as far back as the creation of the Articles of Confederation in 1777. As leader of the Federalist faction, Hamilton carried very strong beliefs in where the power of government should be held. Meanwhile, Thomas Jefferson, the leading Anti-Federalist believe in a vastly different kind of governmental power.

Directions: Explain the political positions that both men held while in President Washington's cabinet. What were their responsibilities in these positions? Why did these two men have such differing opinions on how the government should be run?