Finally he sought by means of his proposed fiscal and commercial policy to make the central government the effective promoter of a wholesome and many-sided national development.

He detected the danger to political stability and self-control which would result from the continued growth of the United States as a merely agricultural and trading community, and he saw that it was necessary to cultivate manufacturing industries and technical knowledge and training, because diversified activity and a well-rounded social and economic life brings with it national balance and security.
Underlying the several aspects of Hamilton's policy can be discerned a definite theory of governmental functions.

The central government is to be used, not merely to maintain the Constitution, but to promote the national interest and to consolidate the national organization.

Hamilton saw clearly that the American Union was far from being achieved when the Constitution was accepted by the states and the machinery of the Federal government set in motion.

A good start had been made, but the way in which to keep what had been gained was to seek for more.