5. Why did Jefferson oppose Hamilton’s plan for creating a national bank? Select all that apply. (2 points)
A He argued that Congress did not have the constitutional power to establish it.
B He felt that there would be no way to effectively run a national banking system.
C He believed that it gave the federal government too much power.
D He believed that Americans would protest if it was established.
A) He argued that Congress did not have the constitutional power to establish it.
C) He believed that it gave the federal government too much power.
The correct answers are A and C.
A) Jefferson argued that Congress did not have the constitutional power to establish a national bank. He believed that the power to create a national bank was not explicitly granted to the federal government in the Constitution.
C) Jefferson believed that creating a national bank would give the federal government too much power. He was concerned about the potential for abuse of power and the concentration of authority in the hands of the federal government.
To determine why Jefferson opposed Hamilton's plan for creating a national bank, we can look at the options provided and analyze each one.
A) He argued that Congress did not have the constitutional power to establish it.
This option aligns with Jefferson's perspective. Jefferson believed in a strict interpretation of the Constitution, adhering to the concept of limited federal power. He argued that the Constitution did not grant Congress the explicit authority to create a national bank, as it was not among the enumerated powers.
B) He felt that there would be no way to effectively run a national banking system.
While this might be a legitimate concern, it does not align directly with Jefferson's specific objections to Hamilton's plan. Jefferson's opposition was primarily focused on constitutional grounds and the perceived excessive power of the federal government.
C) He believed that it gave the federal government too much power.
This is another argument that aligns well with Jefferson's stance. He was wary of granting the federal government too much power, as he believed it could lead to tyranny and threats to individual liberties. Jefferson saw the creation of a national bank as an extension of federal power and thus opposed it.
D) He believed that Americans would protest if it was established.
While this may be a possibility, it is not one of the primary reasons cited for Jefferson's opposition to Hamilton's plan. Jefferson's objections were rooted in constitutional concerns and the consolidation of power, rather than potential public protests.
Based on the analysis, the correct answers would be options A and C.