The Pursuit of Liberty: How Hamilton vs. Jefferson Ignited the Lasting Battle Over Power in America

Jeffrey Rosen explores how the conflicting constitutional visions of Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton have shaped American governance for 250 years. Jefferson championed states' rights and individual liberties, while Hamilton advocated for a strong Federal government and powerful executive. This fundamental disagreement continues to influence debates over the balance between liberty and power. Rosen traces how this tension has defined pivotal moments in American history, including Abraham Lincoln's response to slavery and secession, Franklin Roosevelt's expansion of federal power through the New Deal, and Ronald Reagan's and Donald Trump's efforts to reduce federal government size. The book examines how Hamilton and Jefferson's competing interpretations of the Constitution have shaped landmark congressional and Supreme Court decisions on executive power, from John Marshall's conflicts with Andrew Jackson to current divisions among justices on presidential immunity and administrative state authority. Rosen argues that this Hamiltonian-Jeffersonian clash remains central to contemporary national debates about whether modern presidents are consolidating power and threatening constitutional limits—concerns both founders sought to prevent.