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Alexander Hamilton, Tench Coxe, and the ...

Miller, Scott;Klop...

Case

Alexander Hamilton, Tench Coxe, and the Invention of American Industrial Policy

Miller, Scott; Klopfenstein, Amy

F-2170 | Published July 30, 2026 | 16 Pages Case

Collection: Darden School of Business

Product Details

Set in December 1791, this case asks students to evaluate Alexander Hamilton’s “Report on the Subject of Manufactures,” a set of policy proposals for how the federal government could boost domestic manufacturing. At the time, the United States had few manufacturers, minimal access to manufacturing technology, and a lack of skilled labor. The country received most of its manufactured goods, including weapons and gunpowder, from Britain. Hamilton’s plan argued that the government should provide limited support for building the nation’s manufacturing base through tariffs on select imports, subsidies for target industries, and rewards for promising technological advances. The report also outlined what he believed was the ideal relationship between the public and private sectors: limited government support to stimulate private enterprises in target sectors. The report was the third plan that Hamilton submitted to Congress, after his “Report on Public Credit” (January 1790) and “Report on a National Bank” (February 1791). Congress had ultimately accepted the previous two plans despite sharp political resistance from critics who feared a strong central government—most notably Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. This public-sourced case challenges students to consider how Hamilton should generate support for his plan in light of political resistance and recent incidents that had damaged his personal credibility. Although the case dilemma took place hundreds of years ago, the underlying issues that Hamilton faces remain relevant for modern readers. At the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, this case is taught in “Alexander Hamilton: Lessons in Management, Strategy, and Leadership,” an executive education course that derives business lessons from Hamilton’s life and career. The case would also be suitable for MBA programs in strategy, leadership, and management; undergraduate programs on American history and economic history; or specialized programs on business history, international relations, and global business.

(1) To examine the structural weaknesses in the American economy after the Revolutionary War, including ways in which the nation was dependent on Great Britain. (2) To analyze strategic assets of the new American republic and develop a plan to capitalize on those resources. (3) To consider the relationship between the private sector and the state and identify how they should interact in various circumstances.