Alexander Hamilton Lesson Plan

The Newspaper Wars

Kind of Activity:

Group Discussion

Objective:

Students will examine newspaper pieces and pamphlets from Hamilton's lifetime and evaluate how Chernow portrays the divisive political climate as reflected in the press at the time.

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.6, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.W.7, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.W.8, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.SL.4

Structure:

In this activity, student groups will examine several of the primary source newspaper pieces and pamphlets that Chernow discusses in Alexander Hamilton. Then, they will evaluate both the articles themselves (their arguments and attacks, and how the...