Teaching History With Hamilton



Short Activity:Slavery & the Founding FathersGrade Levels: 6-8Assignment Type: Readings and Music Listening with Discussion Questions. Common Core Standards: HYPERLINK "" CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.2 HYPERLINK "" CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.3 HYPERLINK "" CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.7 HYPERLINK "" CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.6-8.1 HYPERLINK "" CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.6-8.4Introduction:The subject of slavery and the Founding Fathers can be difficult to address. The Founders fought the American Revolution, wrote the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution and launched American democracy. So how could they personally own slaves and/or support the system of slavery? When Jefferson wrote, “all men are created equal,” how did he believe this to be true when he kept an estimated 141 African-Americans enslaved at his Monticello estate? Knowledge that the Founders were slave-owners complicates our views of them.Yet they have a great deal to teach kids about difficult issues, handling controversial questions, moral courage, standing up for one’s beliefs, and challenging the status quo. While many of the Founders owned slaves, there were a few brave men and women who truly believed in human freedom equality even when their friends did not. They acted upon these beliefs by freeing their slaves and/or supporting abolition movements. For example, Benjamin Franklin served as president of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, despite having owned slaves earlier in his life. He had signed a petition for the abolition of slavery in 1790, just a few years before his death. In addition, George Washington in his will arranged for the freedom of an estimated 216 slaves.Some Founders relied on and supported the system of slavery for economic reasons but knew it was unjust and morally wrong. Southern Founding Fathers were more likely to support slavery, given that the Southern economy relied heavily on forced labor and cotton production. The musical Hamilton features a song that engages the issue of slavery. In the musical, the Founders are represented by a diverse cast, more representative of America’s current population. Despite not making the final production of the musical, there is a released cabinet battle song that addresses the issue of slavery, “Cabinet Battle #3 (Demo)”. The song begins by discussing a 1790 petition to abolish slavery signed by Benjamin Franklin. This petition launched a debate in both the House and the Senate, as expressed by Hamilton and Jefferson’s battling verses. In this lesson plan, students will explore the role that slavery played in the lives of the Founders by listening to the song and reading activities. In this activity, students will be able to come to terms with the reality of slavery in a land devoted to liberty and equality. This activity will also create a platform to discuss how the musical Hamilton engages with the issue of slavery and the Founders.Activity: Have students read the biography on Benjamin Franklin and the article, Slavery and the Founding Fathers. After reading some background information, play the Hamilton song, Cabinet Battle #3 (Demo), and pass out the lyrics for the students. Allow the students to listen to the song at least once. Discussion Questions: (to be worked on and responded to in pairs, and then shared as an entire class)1. Did you know that the Founders, such as Washington and Jefferson, owned slaves? Do you think many Americans are fully aware of the Founding Fathers’ ties to slavery? What new discoveries (if any) did you realize today?2. After listening to the song and reading the articles, why do you think some Founding Fathers supported slavery? Why do you think some Founding Fathers supported abolitionism? Please cite specific examples.3. Why does Alexander Hamilton argue, to Jefferson, that the system of slavery is a hypocrisy?4. Why did the nation fail to free slaves in 1790, when Benjamin Franklin submitted his petition? What reasons did they give? How might history have been different if Congress had ended slavery in 1790?Written Assignment: In a page response, please answer the following question. Now that you have context for the connection between the Founding Fathers and slavery, in your opinion why do you think the song, “Cabinet Battle #3”, was excluded from Hamilton: An American Musical? Why do you think the topic of slavery was entirely excluded? If you were the director or the writer for the musical, would you have included either the song and/or the topic more broadly? Please express your argument about whether or not you would have, and why you came to that conclusion. Cite specific evidence from the song and the articles. ................
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