Chatting with historian William Hogeland about Alexander Hamilton, debt, taxes, visionaries, and his new book, "The Hamilton Scheme: An Epic Tale of Money and Power in the American Founding"
I am eager to read this. I never felt obliged to pick a side in the "Jefferson-Hamilton binary." I am not fond of either of them. Each was a proponent of different versions of what the political theorist C. B. McPherson called "possessive individualism," with one advocating an individualism of property capital and the other an individualism of finance capital. In fact the only founder I would "like to have a beer with" is Benjamin Franklin. He remanded his slaves and was also funny as hell. (Would either Jefferson or Hamilton have written a pamphlet entitled "Fart Proudly"? I think not.)
This was a terrific conversation that let me see those early moments a new way--through (White) class conflict and through a proto-John-Brown character I hadn't known of. In our new post-postwar times, another new vision of early America--along with our new ability to see Native Americans as historical actors in early America--is actually intellectually exciting. Thanks Bill and Claire.
I am eager to read this. I never felt obliged to pick a side in the "Jefferson-Hamilton binary." I am not fond of either of them. Each was a proponent of different versions of what the political theorist C. B. McPherson called "possessive individualism," with one advocating an individualism of property capital and the other an individualism of finance capital. In fact the only founder I would "like to have a beer with" is Benjamin Franklin. He remanded his slaves and was also funny as hell. (Would either Jefferson or Hamilton have written a pamphlet entitled "Fart Proudly"? I think not.)
It's a really fun read, Laura: hard recommend.
Thank you. For a look back. And forward?
This was a terrific conversation that let me see those early moments a new way--through (White) class conflict and through a proto-John-Brown character I hadn't known of. In our new post-postwar times, another new vision of early America--along with our new ability to see Native Americans as historical actors in early America--is actually intellectually exciting. Thanks Bill and Claire.
Thanks for listening & commenting Nell!