While both social theorists worked towards strengthening America’s economy, Hamilton believed the government would influence more change while Smith believed that the manufacturers themselves would influence more change.
The success of Adam Smith’s ideal economy is rooted in the concept of man himself creating and expanding a system of trade with little intervention from the government. Smith emphasizes the autonomous method of division of labor because it creates efficiency while simultaneously powering the economy. He opens up his text by saying, “The greatest improvement in the productive power of labour, and the greater part of the skill, dexterity, and judgment with which it is anywhere directed, or applied, seem to have been the effects of the division of labour.”1 By dividing up tasks in a labor force, a worker can become really great at one task rather than be average at many tasks. When a worker improves on his task, this increases efficiency and leads to more innovativeness in his specific field. In terms of competing with other countries, Smith feels that this method will work because “[t]he separation of different trades and