Skip to Main Content

Lesson 5

We will read and analyze excerpts from two letters and the song “The Election of 1800.” We will make connections between the sources and Miranda’s interpretation of the relationship between Hamilton and Burr and what led to Burr killing Hamilton.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I summarize the key ideas from the letters between Alexander Hamilton and Harrison Gray Otis regarding the election of 1800?

  • Can I analyze the significance of Hamilton’s endorsement and how this affected his relationship with Burr?

  • Can I make connections between the information in the sources and Miranda’s interpretation of Hamilton and Burr in “The Election of 1800"?

Texts

Core

  • Tradebook
    • Hamilton: The Revolution, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter, Grand Central, 2016
  • Unit Reader
    • “From Alexander Hamilton to Harrison Gray Otis, 23 December 1800,” Alexander Hamilton, Public Domain, 1800
    • “To Alexander Hamilton from Harrison Gray Otis, 17 December 1800,” Harrison Gray Otis, Public Domain, 1800

Materials

Tools

Reference Guides

Question Sets

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Read

We will prepare to read two primary source letters between Hamilton and Harrison Gray Otis that discuss the election of 1800.

Reread the song "The Election of 1800," focusing on Hamilton’s opinions of Burr and the effect his decisions had on Burr’s life.

  1. Infer how the following interaction affects Hamilton:

Hamilton: Is there anything you wouldn’t do?

Burr: No. I’m chasing what I want. And you know what?

Hamilton: What?

Burr: I learned that from you.

  1. What conclusions can you draw about how Hamilton feels about Burr when he says, “But when all is said and done, Jefferson has beliefs. Burr has none.”

Activity 2: Read

We will read two primary source letters between Hamilton and Harrison Gray Ottis that discuss the election of 1800.

Read two primary source letters between Hamilton and Harrison Gray Ottis that discuss the Election of 1800.

In your small group, read the excerpt from the letter to Alexander Hamilton from Harrison Gray Otis, 17 December 1800, and from Alexander Hamilton to Harrison Gray Otis, 23 December 1800.

While reading, underline sentences that help you understand Hamilton and Burr’s relationship, and circle unfamiliar words.

Activity 3: Write

We will review key vocabulary from this text that represents important concepts or challenging words, paying attention to their use and meaning in context.

Step 1

After reading, note the unfamiliar words your group circled on the Word Map.

  • Write the unfamiliar word you circled in the first row.

  • Write a dictionary definition, synonyms, and antonyms in the top left box.

  • Write the sentence from the text that uses the word in the top right box.

  • Use the word in a sentence in the bottom left box.

  • Write other characteristics or facts about the word in the bottom right box.

Complete a Word Map for each vocabulary word your group underlined in the letters and add the words to your Vocabulary Journal.

Step 2

Work with a partner or group to respond to the vocabulary exercises, as directed by your teacher.

Activity 4: Read

We will reread two primary source letters between Hamilton and Harrison Gray Otis that discuss the election of 1800.

Now that you have defined the unfamiliar words, in your small group, reread the excerpt from the letter to Alexander Hamilton from Harrison Gray Otis, 17 December 1800, and from Alexander Hamilton to Harrison Gray Otis, 23 December 1800.

Underline words or phrases that will help you respond to the following questions:

  1. How would you summarize what Otis is asking of Hamilton?

  2. Based on his reply, how does Hamilton feel about Burr?

After reading and discussing the answers to the question, share your thoughts and ideas with the class.

Activity 5: Discuss

We will compare and make connections between the letters and the song “The Election Of 1800.”

In your small group, make comparisons across all three texts: the two letters and the lyrics to the song. Discuss the following:

  1. Make connections between the primary sources and the song from Hamilton. Look at the words he uses in the song. How does Manuel portray Hamilton’s endorsement of Jefferson in the musical?

  2. Review the words you underlined for the previous activity that helped you respond to the following question: How does Hamilton feel about Burr? How does the portrayal of Hamilton’s feelings towards Burr compare across the texts? What is similar? What is different?

After your small-group discussion, share your ideas, comparisons, and inferences in a whole-group discussion.