Debate: Who had the more enduring vision of the United States? Hamilton or Jefferson?
Side: Alexander Hamilton

When you think of the word “enduring”, you think of words such as continuing, or long-lasting. This means that we are looking not for the person who has had a greater impact on the United States, but who had the longest-lasting vision for her. When you think about which of the founding fathers has had the most enduring vision, it is extremely hard to overlook one man, Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton was a brilliant man who had an amazing, and very enduring vision for the United States. One of Hamilton’s most enduring ideas were the ideas of a diverse economy; the abolition of slavery; and the power of a strong military.When you think about what things brought America from a young, debt-ridden nation, to the most powerful country on Earth, you think about big business and manufacturing, two things that Hamilton not only believed in, but facilitated. Hamilton, unlike Jefferson, had a vision of a strong, and diverse American economy, two things that catapulted us into greatness, and are still a big part of what America stands for. Jefferson’s vision was simply an agrarian economy, Hamilton’s on the other hand not only included farming, but it also included manufacturing, and finance. Hamilton founded one of the first manufacturing centers in New Jersey, the bank of New York, and the New York Stock Exchange, three things that have endured with us up to today. Hamilton’s economic vision is one that will never falter, while Jefferson’s is an outdated one that if put in place, would make the United States a small, poor, and undeveloped nation.Another enduring vision Hamilton had was the belief in the abolition of slavery. While Jefferson was a harsh slave owner, Hamilton refused to use his power and influence to aid the trade of slaves, even though most of the wealthy, and educated men he surrounded himself with were big slave owners. Jefferson contradicted himself in many ways, and one of them was that even though he preached equality for all people throughout his life, he owned many slaves, and even let slavery into the Louisiana Purchase. If you’re looking for who had the most enduring vision for America, it’s not difficult to decide between a firm abolitionist, and a man who owned slaves throughout his whole life, and wouldn’t let them free after his death.As my last point of why Hamilton had a more enduring vision of the United States, let’s take a look at our military. Hamilton believed in a strong military, a belief that has carried us and our allies to victory through two world wars, and is still with us today. Jefferson on the opposite side of the spectrum, actually fought against a Navy and an Army, the only two branches of the military at the time. Hamilton’s vision of the military is a vision that is still with us, and one that we as Americans are extremely proud of. To conclude, neither Hamilton nor Jefferson were perfect, as both had their downfalls. But when you look at the United States today, and whose vision is the most enduring, you will realize that Alexander Hamilton’s vision has been serving us well for 237 years and will forever be a part of America.