The Most Famous Founding Father You’ve Never Heard of Was Hamilton's Arch-Nemesis and a Deficit Hawk

The Most Famous Founding Father You’ve Never Heard of Was Hamilton's Arch-Nemesis and a Deficit Hawk

Alexander Hamilton had a nemesis… and it was not Aaron Burr. After Hamilton enacted a wide-scale spending program to build up America's military and infrastructure, and thus send it into debt, newly-elected President Thomas Jefferson chose a Secretary of the Treasury to dismantle his system—Albert Gallatin.

Considered a “foreigner, a tax rebel, and a dangerously clever man,” the Geneva-born Gallatin was despised by Hamilton and the Federalists. During their political careers, these two economic masterminds were locked in a battle to surmount the other’s financial system for the new nation.

During his twelve years as Secretary of the Treasury, Gallatin overcame his predecessor by
-- Repaying half of the national debt
-- Containing the federal government by restraining its fiscal power
-- Abolishing internal taxes in peacetime
-- Slashing spending

Today I'm talking with Gregory May, author of the new book Jefferson’s Treasure: How Albert Gallatin Saved the New Nation from Debt.

We discuss Gallatin’s rise to power, his tumultuous years at the Treasury, and his enduring influence on American fiscal policy.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episoder(1075)

American Politicians Nearly Had George Washington Fired During the Revolutionary War

American Politicians Nearly Had George Washington Fired During the Revolutionary War

After the setbacks of 1777 and 1778, other American officers angled to take Washington's position as leader of the Continental Army. A conspiracy called the Conway Cable tried but failed to force him ...

10 Des 201938min

The Philadelphia Campaign: When Britain Took Over Ben Franklin's House

The Philadelphia Campaign: When Britain Took Over Ben Franklin's House

The Philadelphia Campaign of 1777-8 was a British attempt to capture Philadelphia, then capital of the United States and seat of the Continental Congress, led by Gen. William Howe. They did capture th...

5 Des 201944min

The Battle of Saratoga—Benedict Arnold, An American Hero

The Battle of Saratoga—Benedict Arnold, An American Hero

The Battle of Saratoga was incredible turn of fortunes for the United States. British , Gen. John Burgoyne thought he would cut off New England from the rest of the colonies. Instead, he lost the batt...

3 Des 201947min

Rebroadcast: Turkey is Both a Bird and a Country. Which Came First?

Rebroadcast: Turkey is Both a Bird and a Country. Which Came First?

It's no coincidence that the bird we eat for Thanksgiving and a Middle Eastern country are both called Turkey. One was named after the other, and it all has to do with a 500-year-old story of emerging...

28 Nov 201921min

The Saratoga Campaign: Turning Point of the Revolutionary War

The Saratoga Campaign: Turning Point of the Revolutionary War

The Saratoga campaign gave a decisive victory to the Americans over the British during the American Revolutionary War. The battle also saw great heroics by Benedict Arnold.See omnystudio.com/listener ...

27 Nov 201937min

The Battle of Princeton Proves George Washington Was So Lucky, It Was Almost Supernatural

The Battle of Princeton Proves George Washington Was So Lucky, It Was Almost Supernatural

Washington and his men had their work cut out for them after crossing the Delaware River. Over the next ten days, they won two battles. First, the Patriots defeated a Hessian garrison on December 26th...

26 Nov 201930min

19th-Century American Radicals: Vegans, Abolitionists, and Free Love Advocates

19th-Century American Radicals: Vegans, Abolitionists, and Free Love Advocates

On July 4, 1826, as Americans lit firecrackers to celebrate the country’s fiftieth birthday, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were on their deathbeds. They would leave behind a groundbreaking poli...

21 Nov 201939min

Benedict Arnold, Vidkun Quisling, and Other Historical Villains—When is Someone Misunderstood vs. Truly Bad?

Benedict Arnold, Vidkun Quisling, and Other Historical Villains—When is Someone Misunderstood vs. Truly Bad?

Do historical “villains” like Benedict Arnold, Vidkun Quisling, and Emperor Caligula deserve their terrible reputations, or are they victims of biased accounts? In this rebroadcast of a live event in ...

19 Nov 201950min

Populært innen Samfunn

rss-spartsklubben
giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
konspirasjonspodden
aftenpodden-usa
popradet
rss-nesten-hele-uka-med-lepperod
rss-henlagt-andy-larsgaard
wolfgang-wee-uncut
grenselos
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
min-barneoppdragelse
synnve-og-vanessa
alt-fortalt
rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
rss-dannet-uten-piano
fladseth
198-land-med-einar-trnquist
rss-lilli-isabelle
opptur-med-annette-og-ingeborg