Why did Jefferson oppose Hamilton's plan for creating a national bank? Select all that apply.
(1 point)
He argued that Congress did not have the constitutional power to establish it.
He felt a national bank was necessary for the government to collect taxes and pay its bills.
He believed that it gave the federal government too much power.
He believed that Americans would protest if it was established.
He argued that Congress did not have the constitutional power to establish it.
He believed that it gave the federal government too much power.
pick another
He believed that Americans would protest if it was established.
To answer this question, let's go through each option and see which ones apply:
1. He argued that Congress did not have the constitutional power to establish it.
To determine if this is a valid reason, we need to understand Jefferson's beliefs regarding the powers granted to the federal government by the Constitution. Jefferson did indeed argue that the creation of a national bank exceeded Congress's constitutional authority. This is because he interpreted the Constitution narrowly, believing that only powers specifically granted to the federal government were allowed, and establishing a national bank was not one of them. Therefore, this option applies.
2. He felt a national bank was necessary for the government to collect taxes and pay its bills.
This option does not apply to Jefferson's opposition to Hamilton's plan. While Jefferson recognized the need for the government to collect taxes and pay its bills, he believed that this could be achieved through other means besides a national bank. He favored a decentralized system of state-chartered banks instead. Therefore, this option does not apply.
3. He believed that it gave the federal government too much power.
This option does apply to Jefferson's opposition. He was wary of any measures that would expand the power of the federal government at the expense of states' rights. Jefferson believed that a national bank would result in an excessive concentration of power in the hands of the federal government, which conflicted with his vision of a more agrarian society with a limited central government.
4. He believed that Americans would protest if it was established.
There is no record or evidence to suggest that Jefferson opposed the national bank plan based on the belief that Americans would protest its establishment. It is more likely that his opposition was grounded in his constitutional concerns and concerns about the concentration of power. Therefore, this option does not apply.
Based on the analysis above, the correct options are:
- He argued that Congress did not have the constitutional power to establish it.
- He believed that it gave the federal government too much power.