Alexander Hamilton: Letter to Harrison Gray Otis on Westward Expansion

The chief mark that Alexander Hamilton left on the U.S. government in its early years was to consolidate power at the federal level. In this respect, he represented a point of view that contrasted sharply with that of Thomas Jefferson, who wanted to see more power in the hands of the states and individuals. Hamilton distrusted the masses, and he believed that the United States could survive only through the support of monied interests—those who had the greatest stake in the new nation. In his voluminous writings, Hamilton consistently urged this point of view. In 1778, during the Revolutionary War, America had signed the Treaty of Alliance with France, each country pledging to come to the aid of the other if Britain attacked. In the wake of the French Revolution, France went to war with Britain, and the United States proclaimed neutrality. Nonetheless, hostilities grew. In preparation for possible war with France on land, the United States maintained a large standing army. In his Letter to Harrison Gray Otis on Westward Expansion, Hamilton voiced the opinion that this army should be maintained and that it should turn its attention to conquering western lands owned by France and Spain.