The Duel Historical Background Information on the Morning of July 11, 1804, Alexander Hamilton Met His Final Challenge in a Duel with Longtime Adversary Aaron Burr

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800-858-7339 • www.tcmpub.com Primary Sources Alexander Hamilton Table of Contents Introduction Introduction to Primary Sources ...... 5 Hamilton: An American Musical Photograph Card Research on Using Primary Sources . . . . . 8 Hamilton’s Legacy ...... 43 Using Primary Sources in the Classroom . . .10 Historical Background Information . . . . . 44 How to Use This Product ...... 21 Primary Sources Correlations to Standards ...... 23 Summary of Hamilton: The Royal Danish American Gazette An American Musical ...... 28 Primary Source One-Way Ticket to America ...... 45 Photograph Cards Historical Background Information . . . . . 46 A Sugar Plantation in the West Indies Hurricane in a Comic Strip ...... 47 Photograph Card Excerpt from Hamilton’s Hurricane Letter . . 48 Hamilton’s Early Years ...... 29 Sons of Liberty Advertisement Primary Source Historical Background Information . . . . . 30 How an Irish Friend Won Over Hamilton . . . 49 Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton Photograph Card Historical Background Information . . . . . 50 Eliza and Alexander ...... 31 Announcing News ...... 51 Historical Background Information . . . . . 32 Text of the Sons of Liberty Advertisement . . 52 The Federal Ship Hamilton Photograph Card Yorktown Cartoon Primary Source The Constitutional Convention ...... 33 Finding Fame in Battle ...... 53 Historical Background Information . . . . . 34 Historical Background Information . . . . . 54 Washington’s First Cabinet Photograph Card Hamilton’s Pins ...... 55 A Contentious Cabinet ...... 35 Cartoon of the Battle of Yorktown ...... 56 Historical Background Information . . . . . 36 The Federalist Primary Source The Capitol in Washington, D.C. Photograph Card A Collection of Essays ...... 57. The Dinner Table Compromise ...... 37 Historical Background Information . . . . . 58 Historical Background Information . . . . . 38 Convincing the People ...... 59 Text of The Federalist Table of Contents . . 60. Hamilton’s Treasury Photograph Card The First National Bank ...... 39. Reynolds Pamphlet Primary Source Historical Background Information . . . . . 40 Hamilton’s Downfall ...... 61 Historical Background Information . . . . . 62 The Duel Photograph Card Blog Advice for Hamilton ...... 63 Hamilton’s Final Challenge ...... 41 Historical Background Information . . . . . 42 Text of the Reynolds Pamphlet ...... 64

© Teacher Created Materials 3 28068—Primary Sources: Alexander Hamilton Table of Contents (cont.) Primary Sources (cont.) Appendix George Washington’s Farewell Address References Cited ...... 90 Primary Source Student Glossary ...... 91 The Patron Hamilton Needed ...... 65 Suggested Young Adult Literature ...... 93 Historical Background Information . . . . . 66 Suggested Websites ...... 94 Hamilton’s Online Photo Feed ...... 67. Document-Based Assessment Excerpt from Washington’s Rubric Example ...... 95 Farewell Address ...... 68 Answer Key ...... 96 Election of 1800 Tally of Electoral Votes Digital Resources ...... 102 Primary Source Jefferson Becomes President ...... 69 Historical Background Information . . . . . 70 Messages for Support ...... 71. Election of 1800 Tally of Electoral Votes . . .72

Revolutionary Army Commission Primary Source A Life after Hamilton ...... 73 Historical Background Information . . . . . 74 Soliciting Funds for Elizabeth ...... 75 Text of the Revolutionary Army Commission ...... 76

Document-Based Assessments The French Support the Americans . . . . . 77 The Nevis Slave Market ...... 78 The $10 Bill ...... 79 Hamilton’s Statue ...... 80 The City of Washington ...... 81 Young Hamilton ...... 82 Taking a New Job ...... 83 Portrait at Yorktown ...... 84 Washington and His Cabinet ...... 85 Hamilton’s Grave ...... 86 A Tribute to Hamilton ...... 87 The Grange ...... 88 Document-Based Question Tasks ...... 89

28068—Primary Sources: Alexander Hamilton 4 © Teacher Created Materials Activities Using Photographs The Duel Hamilton’s Final Challenge Standards/Objectives • Students will understand the differences in leaders and the social and economic composition of each political party in the 1790s . • Students will write thought bubbles for Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr on an image that shows the famous duel .

Materials copies of both sides of The Duel photograph card; copies of the historical background information (page 42); for optional use, copies of the Student Glossary (pages 91–92)

Discussion Questions • What is happening in this image? • Why would one gun be fired pointed upward and the other one pointed at a person? • What do you think happened to the man on the right?

Using the Primary Source Make copies of The Duel photograph card, and distribute these copies to students . Tell students to create thought bubbles on the image showing what they believe the men were thinking at the precise moment of the etching . Allow students to share their ideas of the thoughts taking place in the image . Ask the discussion questions above . Then, distribute copies of the historical background information (page 42) to students, and read it aloud . For reference, there is a Student Glossary (pages 91–92) . Have students revisit their thought bubbles and make corrections in a different color pen or marker based on what they learned from the historical background information . To conclude, have students complete the various activities on the back of the photograph card .

Extension Idea Have students find out more about Philip Hamilton’s duel and make a comparison chart showing how his duel was similar to and different from his father’s duel .

© Teacher Created Materials 41 28068—Primary Sources: Alexander Hamilton Activities Using Photographs The Duel Hamilton’s Final Challenge (cont.) Historical Background Information Though today the idea sounds bizarre, back in the time of Alexander Hamilton, duels were not completely uncommon . They were ways for men to fight to protect their honor . They typically came about as a result of heated arguments . And when one was challenged to a duel, to turn it down would ruin his reputation completely . Duels were against the law in most places, and the winners of some duels were sought after as criminals . In 1801, Hamilton’s oldest son, Philip, had a publicly heated argument with a man named George Eacker . He was a Democratic-Republican who had insulted Philip’s father . Philip felt he had to defend his father’s name, and he challenged Eacker to a duel . Eacker eagerly accepted the challenge . When Philip died in the duel, a part of Hamilton died, also . Not long after Philip’s death, Hamilton heard that Aaron Burr was running for New York governor . Hamilton and Burr had a long history, both as allies and as rivals . Hamilton had almost single-handedly made Burr lose the presidency to Thomas Jefferson . In the election of 1800, Hamilton endorsed Jefferson over Burr . Congress matched Hamilton’s vote . When he found out that Burr was running for governor, Hamilton did not approve . So Hamilton publicly opposed Burr . A letter was published in the newspaper that claimed Hamilton had called Burr “a dangerous man, and one who ought not be trusted with the reigns of government ”. Burr was furious . He challenged Hamilton to either publicly apologize for his attacks or meet him in a duel . Hamilton believed that Burr was only running for office for self gain, not public service to his country . To Hamilton, that was unconscionable, but Hamilton did not want to duel . He offered a retraction for what he had said, but Burr refused to accept it . Since neither man was willing to give in, the duel was set . Hamilton knew his honor was on the line . He had to accept the challenge to duel . The duel took place across the Hudson River in Weehawken, New Jersey, on July 11, 1804 . It was the exact place where his son Philip had dueled and died just a few years before . Although three people attended the duel, nobody saw what took place . It was customary in duels for those not involved to turn their backs so they would not have to witness the crime . Based on letters Hamilton wrote before the duel, some historians speculate that his shot was fired high because he had intended to miss, or “throw away his shot ”. Today, we cannot know whether he threw away his shot or not . What is known for sure is that both men fired their weapons . Hamilton’s shot missed, while Burr’s bullet passed through Hamilton’s liver . Hamilton died the following day .

28068—Primary Sources: Alexander Hamilton 42 © Teacher Created Materials Source: Sarin Images / The Granger Collection, New York The Duel Historical Background Information On the morning of July 11, 1804, Alexander Hamilton met his final challenge in a duel with longtime adversary Aaron Burr. Besides having different ideas about politics, Hamilton did not approve of Burr’s personal ambition. Hamilton knew that Burr was only running for office for self gain, not public service to his country. Hamilton spoke openly to his acquaintances concerning Burr, and a newspaper published his comments. Burr demanded an apology. Neither side was willing to lose his reputation by giving in to the other, so finally, they agreed on terms for a duel. Hamilton was shot in the duel and died the next day, leaving behind his wife and children.

Analyzing History Historical Writing Remembering Fiction For what reasons did the two men decide to hold a If this part of Hamilton’s life were deadly duel? written as a graphic novel, how might it look? Write two pages of a graphic Understanding novel showing various important events In studying the image, what do you notice about in his life. Hamilton’s weapon? Nonfiction Applying What happened in Hamilton’s life Is the image an accurate depiction according to the leading up to the duel that might have background information? made him less likely to want to duel with Burr? Analyzing Study the four observers in the image. Who do you think they are, and what do their body language and facial History Challenge expressions tell you about what they’re thinking? Find out what happened to Hamilton’s Evaluating oldest daughter after he died. In your opinion, how else could Hamilton and Burr have solved their differences?

Creating What if Hamilton had lived after the duel? What else do you believe he would have done as a statesman?