ed States. Had succeeding TreasurySecretaries continued Hamilton's course of strengthening the federalgovernment, at the expense of the states, America's economic expansionwould have been stillborn.Fortunately, when Jefferson came to power, he brought with him the Swissfinancier and economist Albert Gallatin, who served Jefferson for two termsand Madison for one. Unlike his fellow countryman Necker, whosemercantilist policies only hastened the coming of the French Revolution,Gallatin was committed to limited government and free market economicpolicies. Setting the tone for his Administration, Jefferson said in hisfirst inaugural address: "Still one thing more, fellow citizens, a wise andfrugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another,shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industryand improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread ithas earned."9For the next eight years, Jefferson and Gallatin worked to reduce thenation's debt as well as its taxes. The national debt was cut from $83million to $57 million, and the number of Federal employees was reduced.Despite the restrictions on trade caused by Napoleon's Berlin and Milandecrees, and the British blockade of Europe, American businessmen continuedto develop connections around the world. By the end of Jefferson's firstterm, he was able to ask, "What farmer, what mechanic, what laborer eversees a tax gatherer in the United States?"9 By 1810.The only real comparison that can be made between these two great historicrevolutions is the formation of their new government. The revolutionistsin America abolished laws that Britain opposed on them such as theNavigation Acts, Quartering Acts, Stamp Acts , and the hated IntolerableActs. Are founding fathers also used a democratic form of government,which, in that time frame, was considered radical and totally unheard of inEurope, where the major European powers were almost all total...
