1. Introduction; Part I. A Debate between Cabinet Colleagues: 2. Establishing the public faith: Hamilton's Report on Public Credit; 3. First signs of division: assumption and the Back Pay Bill; 4. Establishing energetic government: Hamilton's Report on a National Bank; 5. Defending limited government: Jefferson's critique of the constitutionality of the national bank; 6. Defending energetic government: Hamilton on the constitutionality of the national bank; Part II.

A Clash of Rival Party Leaders: 7. Securing American independence: Hamilton's Report on Manufactures; 8. The revolution, alienation of territory, and the apportionment bill; 9. Aiming for monarchy: Jefferson's critique of Hamiltonianism; 10. Tending toward anarchy: Hamilton's critique of Jeffersonianism; Part III. Founding Foreign Policy: 11. Two views of the French Revolution; 12. Faith among nations I: Jefferson's opinion on the French treaties; 13.

Faith among nations II: Hamilton's opinion on the French treaties; 14. The constitutional and political theory of Hamilton's Pacificus papers; 15. Jefferson, Madison, and Helvidius' critique of Pacificus; 16. Conclusion.