Section 2: Overview

Analyzing Primary Sources

How can history be used to create a modern story? We will question how Lin-Manuel Miranda interpreted primary and secondary sources to create Hamilton: An American Musical. By listening to and closely reading selected songs from Act 1 of the musical, and by analyzing related primary and secondary sources, we will address the following questions:

• Who is Alexander Hamilton?

• How did Lin-Manuel Miranda interpret primary and secondary sources to create the character of Alexander Hamilton?

• Lesson 1:

  We will review the Central Question and Framing Questions and will continue to explore the question, “Who is Alexander Hamilton?” We will do this by listening to and closely reading the songs “Alexander Hamilton” and “My Shot” from Act 1 of Hamilton: An American Musical. We will then characterize Alexander Hamilton based on the descriptions in the musical’s songs.

• Lesson 2:

  We will begin to study the question, “How did Lin-Manuel Miranda interpret primary and secondary sources to create Hamilton: An American Musical?” We will read and analyze an excerpt of Alexander Hamilton’s letter to the Royal Danish American Gazette. Then, we will analyze Hamilton’s use of structure and language, and we will make connections between Hamilton’s writing and the way in which he is characterized in the song “Alexander Hamilton.”

• Lesson 3:

  We will dig deeper into our study of the question, “How did Lin-Manuel Miranda interpret primary and secondary sources to create Alexander Hamilton?” We will begin by reading excerpts from Ron Chernow’s biography, Alexander Hamilton, that focus on The Federalist Papers.

• Lesson 4:

  We will learn about the importance of paying attention to authors’ use of language and will begin compiling powerful and interesting sentences in our Mentor Sentence Journals.

• Lesson 5:

  We will begin to dig deeper into our study of the question, “How did Lin-Manuel Miranda interpret primary and secondary sources to create Alexander Hamilton?” We will read “Federalist No. 1.”

• Lesson 6:

  We will compare Alexander Hamilton with his dramatic foil in the musical, Aaron Burr, by closely reading and analyzing the songs “Aaron Burr, Sir,” “My Shot,” “Wait For It,” “Dear Theodosia,” and “Non-Stop.” We will also prepare to debate Burr’s and Hamilton’s perspectives.

• Lesson 7:

  We will debate Burr and Hamilton’s perspectives. Then, we will listen to and closely read the songs “Stay Alive,” “Meet Me Inside,” and “Guns and Ships” from Act 1 of Hamilton: An American Musical. We will continue to analyze Alexander Hamilton and his motivations and perspectives.

• Lesson 8:

  We will read and analyze letters between Alexander Hamilton and George Washington and identify the central idea and tone of each.

• Lesson 9:

  We will analyze the letters between Alexander Hamilton and George Washington and make connections between these letters and Miranda’s characterization of Hamilton in the musical.

• Lesson 10:

  We will prepare for the Section Diagnostic by reviewing our research about Alexander Hamilton and will consider Hamilton’s views.

• Lesson 11:

  We write a response comparing Miranda’s interpretation of Hamilton’s views of slavery with what we found in our reading of primary and secondary sources.

• Lesson 12:

  We will review feedback on the Section Diagnostic. We will use the feedback to make revisions to our work.

• Lesson 13:

  We will share the understanding we have gained through our independent reading and continue reading our texts.