Anaxagoras
Banned
In 1791, George Washington was faced with the decision of whether to sign or veto the legislation passed by Congress (despite strong opposition) to charter a Bank of the United States. The idea was the brainchild of Alexander Hamilton, who saw the bank as necessary to establish the credit-worthiness of the United States. But it was strongly opposed by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, who saw the bank as an unconstitutional power grab and a measure designed to favor Northern financial interests rather than the people as a whole.
Washington's attorney general told the President that the plan was unconstitutional, and Washington asked for written opinions from both Jefferson and Hamilton. Jefferson stated that the bank was unconstitutional because the Constitution had not delegated the power to charter a bank to the United States. Hamilton said that it was constitutional because of the "necessary and proper" clause, thus creating the concept of implied powers.
IOTL, Washington took Hamilton's advice and signed the bill into law. What if he had taken Jefferson's advice instead and vetoed the proposal?
I think this POD would have significant changes in two areas. One would be the immediate economic and financial history of the new-born United States, which would have massive butterflies. The other would be the precedent set in favor of strict constructionism of the Constitution rather than an acceptance of the idea of implied powers.
Washington's attorney general told the President that the plan was unconstitutional, and Washington asked for written opinions from both Jefferson and Hamilton. Jefferson stated that the bank was unconstitutional because the Constitution had not delegated the power to charter a bank to the United States. Hamilton said that it was constitutional because of the "necessary and proper" clause, thus creating the concept of implied powers.
IOTL, Washington took Hamilton's advice and signed the bill into law. What if he had taken Jefferson's advice instead and vetoed the proposal?
I think this POD would have significant changes in two areas. One would be the immediate economic and financial history of the new-born United States, which would have massive butterflies. The other would be the precedent set in favor of strict constructionism of the Constitution rather than an acceptance of the idea of implied powers.