Hamilton vs. Jefferson:

The Creation of an American Nation

I walk on untrodden ground. There is scarcely any part of my conduct which may not hereafter be drawn into precedent. George Washington
 
George Washington was well aware of what was at stake during his first administration…America was barely a nation and instituting a stable form of government was his most ambitious task.  One of his first actions as President was to actually create an executive precedent by appointing a cabinet to serve as an advisory group.  Among these advisors, Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, best known for his brilliant contribution in writing theDeclaration of Independence, was also a major player in the development of the American system of government.  While in constant competition with his contemporary nemesis Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton, the resulting conflict (usually within the Cabinet of President Washington) led to the development of numerous functions and philosophies of government still used today.

Imagine you had served in PresidentWashington’s Cabinetand were privy to all the advice, policy and recommendations that these two provided to the President?  Be able to describe the main goals/position/policies that both Hamilton and Jefferson supported.

-considerations

-what groups did both groups look to for support/who did they appeal to most?

-what philosophies/ideals did they support?

-what specific policy recommendations did they make?

-where did they view power originating from?

-how should government power best be used?

-how did they interpret the constitution/what influence did they have?

Working with a partner, each student will assume the role of one of those two characters.  You will use the information from your research to write two journal entries.

(1) The first is a journal entry of your character putting forth their arguments and justifications (Keep in mind that many great politicians write for posterity…meaning they write with an eye toward future generations who will reflect on them).

(2) The second is a journal entry that serves as a rebuttal to the arguments/justifications of your adversary (again focusing on posterity).

The following scoring tools may be used or adapted by your teacher to evaluate your research process and your final product and presentation.

Essential Question:

Subsidiary Questions:

How have factions within societyled to the modern two-party system?

How has the capitalistic systembeen regarded throughout our history?

How has politics been used to create class conflicts?

How was the federal system of government actually initiated?

What influence did each have on foreign affairs?

Use this notes chart to record the questions you will be answering in your research?

Research Note: Make sure to understand that political parties began as factions and had a variety of fault lines during Washington’s first term that eventually became more solidified.  Be sure to understand this development as you research the 1790’s.  

Sort your research findings using the same notes chart on which you recorded your research questions.

If you prefer to take notes using lined paper or note cards, write each numbered subsidiary question at the top of a separate sheet of notebook paper or note card.

Be sure to avoid plagiarism and remember to cite your references. Check a research guide for details about the proper citation of sources. For MLA guidelines and examples.

Analyze your research notes to determine if you have enough information to create a detailed and well-written journal entry.

• Have you taken sufficient notes to answer all of your questions in detail?
• Can you throw away material which is not useful, is repetitive, or does not answer your questions?
• Do you need to rearrange the information in different categories?
• Can you condense or combine the information?
• Do you need to develop new questions to adequately cover your topic?

Synthesize your findings by writing a first draft of Journal # 1. Each entry should be a minimum of two pages long and should include details that answer all of your subsidiary questions.
In the draft of your journal, check for the following:

• Do you have enough supporting ideas and details to answer all of your subsidiary questions?
• Do you have sufficient facts and details to inform an audience about your character’s main views?
• Do you have an understanding of the development of political ideas you are studying relevant to the party leader?
• Which facts are the most compelling and would have the greatest impact on your audience?
• What new insights have emerged about your topic?
• What information will you include to enhance your classmates' understanding of the period?
• Do you have your information arranged chronologically as diary entries?

Evaluate your research product for quality and completeness.

• Do a self-assessment of your journal by completing the Journal Rubric
• Have a peer (classmate) use the same rubric to evaluate your product draft and provide feedback (comments, criticism, suggestions).
• Revise or edit your draft materials as needed based on your self-assessment and peer assessment.
• Create the final draft of your Journal.

Presentation:
After your journals have been written and responded to, you will meet up with other members of the class who share your character.  As a group, you will synthesize into a political party (you should know which one) and create a campaign PowerPoint presentation to educate your constituents of your views.  Be sure not only to educate about your views and why they are better, but to have examples that can be used to refute the opposition’s policies.

Finally, you will present your campaign propaganda to a group of constituents who will decide via the ballot box which side appeals more to the American citizens. Students in the audience will record important details on a presentation notes chart as the groups speak.

Extension Activity:
Students will engage in a class Socratic Seminar discussion about how the contributions of Jefferson/Hamilton our affecting our lives today. What aspects of our political, economic, and social systems do we owe to their brainpower and compromise?

Reflection:
Use the information on your presentation, journals, and seminar sheet to analyze the short-term/long-term impact of these two leading political minds.