Hamilton and Jefferson Essay

ES: Demonstrate understanding of concepts

Writing Guidelines

Essay Question: How did Hamilton’s and Jefferson’s ideas and ideals about government

differ?

• Take out your chart and your 9.1 Notes• Highlight the 3 most important differences between the two

men that you plan to use in your essay - NOT personal background! That’s for the intro…• Write your thesis

In this essay, the differences between Hamilton and the Federalist party and Jefferson and The Republican party will be discussed using their contrasting ideas about the Constitution, an ideal economy and human nature.

• Complete the outline

• You should use your chart and you can also use 9.1 notes if needed. Do not do any additional research.

Anecdote/Hook

• A quote from a historical figure from the era

• A quote from a historian

• An interesting/amusing fact or story from personal background

• Unusual statistics

• A question

• Orient the reader to the historical era

Writing an Introduction

• Anecdote

Orient reader to time

period and topic

Information on two men

Thesis

General

Specific

IntroductionWho would have thought that a poor kid from St. Croix could

grow up to become the father of modern banking? This rags to riches story could only have occurred in one place in the late 1700’s - America. Alexander Hamilton was a man of big ideals and large plans. He moved to new York City to obtain an education and work in business. He saw that this nation was a land of true opportunity and was excited to participate in this grand experiment. Jefferson, on the other hand, was salt of the earth. He grew up helping to manage his father’s large tobacco plantation in Virginia and his family had been a part of the Virginia planter elite for generations. Jefferson felt a strong loyalty to his state and thought farmers were the supports of this nation. This was not their only difference. Hamilton and Jefferson also had key philosophical arguments about the Constitution, an ideal economy and human nature that put them at odds with each other during Washington’s first presidency.

Body Paragraph• A second dissimilar ideal between Hamilton and Jefferson

is their view on an ideal economy. Hamilton’s belief about an ideal economy was a focus on developing national businesses. He supported manufacturing and trade and created the first national bank. Conversely, Jefferson’s belief about an ideal economy was a focus on agriculture and that should be managed by state governments. Jefferson believed that “this nation’s riches should be in the land, not in the banks.” This economic debate about manufacturing versus farming reveal the different philosophies concerning with whom and where the economic power in this country should reside. Should America try to compete with Europe and earn her respect as Hamilton seems to suggest, or remain provincial and decentralized as Jefferson purports? Washington creates policies for both paths to prosperity, unintentionally creating 2 very different regional economies.

Using transitions

however

nevertheless

on the other hand

on the contrary

even so

notwithstanding

Conversely

in contrast

alternatively

otherwise

instead

Still/yet

otherwise

at the same time

though

nonetheless

rather

Writing Notes

• Use MLA Format - Times New Roman, 12 Font, 1-inch margins, 2.o spacing

• Write in the past tense – it was the 1700s!

• Introduce them by their first and last names. Then just refer to them by their last names only. Do not ever refer to them by their first names!

• Use a variety of transitions

• Don’t look on the internet for answers – I want you to use only the information I gave you.

Writing Reminders#1

• Try to use a quote in every body paragraph – remember it doesn’t have to be the entire quote!• Ex: Jefferson believed a bank was, “not necessary” and most

certainly “not authorized” by the Constitution.

• Only I.D. their political party once.

• Capitalize political parties, the Constitution and their titles, i.e. Secretary of State.

• Don’t use ( ) in your writing (they are interrupters) and they are really (like) really informal and you can use (maybe, possibly) commas instead.

Writing Reminders #2• Combine simple sentences.Ex: Hamilton was a Federalist. A Federalist is a person who believes in

a strong central government

• Edit for repetitive words/phrases, especially in vague sentences that don’t say anything.

Ex: The two different men had different opinions on may different topics

• Edit to use LESS WORDS to make your point. Look at where I crossed off unnecessary, extra words that convolute meaning. BE CLEAR.

Ex: One of the various reasons the Federalist and Secretary of War Alexander Hamilton believed that men were essentially selfish and evil was due to his participation in our first war, the Revolutionary War.

Analyze!!!!• Move from summary to analysis

Summary: And that is why Hamilton and Jefferson believed in different economies.

Analysis: Their visions for economic development would set America either on course as a small collection of farming states, or as an industrialized, international power. The latter was a more prudent option for a developing country in the 1790s.

• Consider the “so what” question when you are finished your historical facts. How does this information affect George Washington? The regions? The country? Our relations with Europe? Our future?

Scoring Guide• Exceptional: Essay uses a variety of specific historical details from the sources to support thesis.

Thesis is specific and arguable. Each paragraph contains a clear topic sentence, evidence, and analysis. Clear and insightful analysis. Writer demonstrates how evidence proves thesis

• Commendable: Essay uses some facts and details from the sources but more could be incorporated. Thesis is arguable. Each paragraph contains a topic sentence, evidence, and analysis. Clear analysis, more insight needed. Writer needs to further demonstrate how evidence proves thesis

• Adequate: Details are vague, missing, or redundant. Thesis is vague. Evidence, or analysis is missing. Reasons to support judgment are limited or missing

• Chart (5): • Outline (5): = 30 points total• Essay (20):