Lesson 6

We will read and analyze the song “Your Obedient Servant,” excerpts from letters, and Alexander Hamilton. 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 Aaron Burr.
Can I rewrite a letter from Hamilton to Burr in modern language to show an understanding of the key ideas and details?
Can I use a variety of strategies (e.g., context clues, word study, and vocabulary resources) to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words, phrases, and figurative expressions?
Can I analyze how an author’s perspective influences the position, purpose, and ideas of a text?

Texts

Core

- Hamilton: The Revolution, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter, Grand Central, 2016

- “Aaron Burr’s Instructions to William P. Van Ness, 22–23 June 1804,” Aaron Burr, Public Domain, 1804
- “Enclosure: Charles D. Cooper to Philip Schuyler, 23 April 1804,” Charles D. Cooper, Public Domain, 1804
- “From Alexander Hamilton to Aaron Burr, 20 June 1804,” Alexander Hamilton, Public Domain, 1804
- “From Alexander Hamilton to Aaron Burr, 22 June 1804,” Alexander Hamilton, Public Domain, 1804
- “To Alexander Hamilton from Aaron Burr, 18 June 1804,” Aaron Burr, Public Domain, 1804
- “To Alexander Hamilton from Aaron Burr, 21 June 1804,” Aaron Burr, Public Domain, 1804
- “To Alexander Hamilton from Aaron Burr, 22 June 1804,” Aaron Burr, Public Domain, 1804

Materials

Tools

Reference Guides

Academic Discussion Reference Guide

Question Sets

Alexander Hamilton: Section 3 Question Set

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Read

We will review our Burr-Hamilton Note-Taking Tool.

On your own, review your completed Burr-Hamilton Note-Taking Tool.

Think about the events and character choices that led to the duel.

Activity 2: Read

We will read the excerpts from the letter to Alexander Hamilton from Aaron Burr, 18 June 1804, and a letter from Charles D. Cooper to Philip Schuyler, 23 April 1804.

Step 1

As a class, read excerpts from a letter written by Aaron Burr to Alexander Hamilton and a letter from Charles D. Cooper to Philip Schuyler.

While reading, underline sentences that help you identify the central idea of the excerpts, and circle unfamiliar words.

Go back to the unfamiliar words and define them using the dictionary or context clues. Add them to your Vocabulary Journal.

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

Step 2

With the class, summarize the letters by paying attention to the central idea and including details that support it.

Activity 3: Read – Write

We will read a letter from Alexander Hamilton to Aaron Burr, 20 June 1804.

Step 1

In a small group, read an excerpt from the letter from Alexander Hamilton to Aaron Burr, 20 June 1804, on the Rewriting Hamilton and Burr Letters Handout. This letter is Hamilton’s response to Burr’s letter requesting an acknowledgement or denial of Cooper’s claims.

While reading, annotate the text: underline sentences that help you figure out Hamilton’s response to Burr’s letter, and circle unfamiliar words.

Step 2

In your small group, go back to the unfamiliar words and define them using a Vocabulary in Context Tool and add them to your Vocabulary Journal.

Step 3

Review the definition of paraphrase: to restate or put a passage into your own words.

A paraphrase is very specific to what happened and is not selective; in other words, when paraphrasing, the writer includes all details.

Discuss the following question with your group:

How is a paraphrase different from a summary?

Reread the letter.

As a group, paraphrase Hamilton’s answer to Burr in modern English. First, read over the modern language rewrite of Burr’s letter to Hamilton, then rewrite Hamilton’s response as if you were writing to a peer who was demanding a response. Complete this on the Rewriting Hamilton and Burr Letters Handout.

Share your rewritten letters with the class.

Activity 4: Read

For homework, we will read excerpts from several letters.

For homework, read the excerpts from the letter to Alexander Hamilton from Aaron Burr, 21 June 1804, the letter to Alexander Hamilton from Aaron Burr, 22 June 1804, the letter from Alexander Hamilton to Aaron Burr, 22 June 1804, and Aaron Burr’s instructions to William P. Van Ness, 22–23 June 1804.

While reading, underline sentences or phrases that help you identify the causes of the duel, and circle unfamiliar words.

Use a copy of the Word Map to define unfamiliar words and add them to your Vocabulary Journal.

Respond to the following questions in your Learning Log:

Look at the letter to Alexander Hamilton from Aaron Burr, 21 June 1804, and the letter to Alexander Hamilton from Aaron Burr, 22 June 1804. Burr states that Hamilton has "invited the course [he is] about to pursue." Why does he feel this way?
In the letter from Alexander Hamilton to Aaron Burr, 22 June 1804, why does Alexander Hamilton feel he has "no other answer to give than that which has already been given"?
What does Hamilton’s response in his letter to Aaron Burr on 22 June 1804 reveal about him? Think about the character traits revealed.
Burr lays out his reasons for the duel in Aaron Burr’s instructions to William P. Van Ness. What are the reasons he gives for the duel?

Write new or interesting words you encounter in your Vocabulary Journal.

Find at least two interesting sentences and add them to your Mentor Sentence Journal.