Cabinet Battle

"Cabinet Battle #1", "Cabinet Battle #2", and "Cabinet Battle #3" are songs written for Act II of the musical Hamilton, based on the life of Alexander Hamilton, which premiered on Broadway in 2015. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote both the music and lyrics to the song.

The songs portray discussions in the cabinet of the administration of George Washington (played by Christopher Jackson in the original cast) in the style of rap battles between Secretary Of The Treasury Alexander Hamilton (Lin-Manuel Miranda) and Secretary Of State Thomas Jefferson (Daveed Diggs), with Representative James Madison (Okieriete Onaodowan) occasionally assisting Jefferson. The cabinet battles, which include the anachronistic use of microphones, were influenced by the rap battles that appear in 8 Mile.^[1]

"Cabinet Battle #1" and "Cabinet Battle #2" were performed in the stage version of the musical. "Cabinet Battle #3" was cut from the final version, but Lin-Manuel Miranda's demo track of that song was ultimately released on The Hamilton Mixtape.

Cabinet Battle #1

"Cabinet Battle #1" is the second song from Act II of the musical Hamilton. George Washington begins the song by explaining the issue before them: whether or not to adopt Hamilton's proposal of establishing a national bank.

Jefferson's verse

Jefferson starts the rap battle by quoting his Declaration of Independence. Jefferson, an avid supporter of state government and individual rights, quotes himself to emphasize those values that he holds dear. These values echo and are modeled after the ideals expressed by John Locke in his 1689 work "Two Treatises of Government". The Declaration of Independence would declare that government existed primarily for the reasons Locke gave, and some have extended that line of thinking to support a conception of limited government. Jefferson’s philosophies thus opposed Hamilton’s First Report on the Public Credit because the report analyzed the financial standing of the United States of America and made recommendations to reorganize the national debt and to establish the public credit.^[2] Creating national public credit would increase the power of the federal government, something unprecedented in early American history. Also, Virginia, the state of Jefferson’s home and estate Monticello, had already paid off its debts, as well as most of the Southern states. Further attacking Hamilton’s financial plan, Jefferson raps about the length of the plan, a 40,000 word document,^[3] New York politicians such as Hamilton who gained wealth through moving the finances of the actual product producing southern states, and even attacking Hamilton as a greedy man who should not be a politician who gains popularity. As he closes, Jefferson references the British Intolerable Acts and the Boston Tea Party to highlight his foreshadowing of the Whiskey Rebellion. As part of Hamilton’s Report, a tax on whiskey became law in 1791, and was intended to generate revenue to help reduce the national debt.^[4]

Hamilton’s verse

Hamilton begins his rebuttal with acknowledging Jefferson’s work on the Declaration of Independence, but telling the cabinet that Jefferson is behind the times because of his time in France. In July 1784, Jefferson arrived in Paris and would remain there until leaving in September 1789,^[5][6] and therefore missed much of the combat of the Revolution. Hamilton attacks Jefferson for this, criticizing the future third President as a false protector of American Values.

Another aspect of Hamilton’s attack on Jefferson’s person and morals are his slaves. In 1774, the earliest record, it was recorded that Jefferson owned at least 41 slaves.^[7] Hamilton makes light of Jefferson's dealing with President George Washington and the discord between the two.

Washington's decision

Though Washington likes Hamilton's idea, Hamilton is unable to sway enough others to get the votes he need. He is thus unable to get his proposal passed, a fact for which Jefferson and Madison mock him. Washington takes Hamilton aside and orders him to work out a compromise that will get his motion passed, hinting that Hamilton may be forced out of office if he can't manage it.

Cabinet Battle #2

"Cabinet Battle #2" is the seventh song from Act II of the musical Hamilton. Like "Cabinet Battle #1," this track again starts with George Washington cluing the audience into what's happening; primarily, the discussion on whether to give aid to France during the beginning of the French Revolution in 1789 and their potential war with Britain.

Jefferson's verse

Jefferson and Madison start the rap battle by questioning the cabinet as to who aided the American Revolutionaries during their hour of need (the answer: France). Jefferson also argues that because the Americans signed a treaty between themselves and the King of France, they are honor bound to give aid to them as they enter a war with Britain. Jefferson then insults Hamilton, accusing him of being greedy and stating that he is disloyal. Jefferson notes that he is Secretary of State, not Hamilton, implying that he should have more influence on this decision than the Secretary of Treasury.

Hamilton's verse

Hamilton comes out with a furious statement^[8] asserting that Washington would never agree with Jefferson because the new found United States are so young and unstable without involvement in international affairs. Indeed, this is evident in Washington's farewell address (written, at least in part, by Hamilton) as the first president promotes neutrality.

Next, Alexander discredits Thomas Jefferson's wish to uphold the treaty with France by arguing that the United States is not beholden to France because the king that signed the agreement, King Louis XVI, had been killed in the revolution.^[9]

Washington's decision

Cutting Hamilton's rap short, Washington sides with Hamilton and publicly denounces Jefferson's idealistic approach to the problem. Jefferson, furious, confronts Hamilton and accuses him of abandoning Lafayette, the famed French general who aided the Americans during the American Revolution and one of Jefferson's and Hamilton's closest friends. Hamilton responds quickly, but Jefferson leaves the fight while he warns Hamilton that he is powerless without Washington's support. This would prove true during John Adams's presidential administration.^[10]

Cabinet Battle #3

As before, Washington introduces the issue on the table: a proposal drafted by Benjamin Franklin to end the slave trade and emancipate all current slaves in America.

Jefferson's verse

Jefferson acknowledges that slavery is an evil, but argues that the government had already sworn not to consider abolishing it until 1808; this was a necessary compromise to get the southern states on board with the new American government. He further adds that even if slavery were abolished, anti-black racism would still exist, and there's no clear solution on what to do with the newly freed slaves. ("So back to Africa? Or do they get a separate state?") He finally says that he previously tried to ban slavery but couldn't drum up any political support, making Franklin's proposal politically impossible even if it were a good idea.

Hamilton's verse

Hamilton castigates the idea of waiting until 1808 to do anything about slavery, pointing out that as the population grows, it will become harder and harder to deal with the problem. He also tells Washington that their tolerance of slavery will destroy the way that history looks upon them. ("Sir, even you, you have hundreds of slaves, whose descendants will curse our names when we're safe in our graves.") He mocks Jefferson's concerns, arguing that petty concerns such as the south needing labor for its businesses or Jefferson taking slave mistresses are less important than stamping out slavery, and he references Sally Hemings by name. Washington, however, cuts Hamilton off, and Jefferson and Madison--who know about Hamilton's affair with Maria Reynolds--point out that Hamilton has no room to criticize others for taking mistresses.

Madison's verse

Madison proposes a compromise in which he will pledge to the south that abolition will not be considered before 1808, as previously agreed, and will pledge to the north that the slave trade will be ended on January 1, 1808. That, he says, will handle the worst of slavery's abuses without driving away the south. He then says that, once his compromise is accepted, he will draft a motion that slavery will never again be considered by the government.

Washington's decision

Washington accepts Madison's proposal. Hamilton protests, but Washington says that if they try to abolish slavery then every plantation owner will demand compensation, which the government doesn't have. After he sighs that maybe the next generation will come up with a better plan, the song ends.

Critical reactions

The musical has received critical acclaim and praise in its first year on the Broadway track.

Talib Kweli, after seeing the show, noted that Daveed Diggs's performance was especially powerful in the rap/broadway combination Miranda employs in his writing, not to mention in the "brilliance" that is "Cabinet Battle #1".^[11] "The guy who plays Jefferson, as soon he came onstage and did a couple of bars, I was like, 'That’s an MC. That’s not a traditional Broadway dude. That’s a guy who raps and was put in this play because he raps.'"^[11] This praise may stem from Diggs's LA-based rap and noise band clipping. for which he acts as MC.

References