The Pursuit of Liberty: How Hamilton vs. Jefferson Ignited the Lasting Battle Over Power in America

Deep political divisions are nothing new in American government. This book is the story of two of our founders whose disagreements about practical applications of the Constitution were never resolved and have carried through to this day. Jefferson’s agrarian and democratic ideals conflicted with those of Alexander Hamilton, who was a Federalist and believed in a strong national government. The animus and betrayals between the two make the story relevant to today’s climate of disputation. However, very different from today is the acknowledgement that these firmly held principles should be subject to debate and consensus. While both men had gigantic egos and fiery temperaments, they could compromise for the good of the country. Neither man wanted insurrections, uprisings, or violence to go rampant and unchecked. Today, it is difficult to find a vestige of their sound, if not divergent arguments. Since the creation of political parties, arguments seem to be set in stone, with all parties being unwilling to debate freely the basis of good government and the will of the people.

The author is a professor at the George Washington University Law School. He has written eight other books on the United States government, and he is well worth reading.