Lesson Plan
Lesson Plan Template
Title: The Election of 1800: Revolutionary Stability
Descriptive Subtitle: An exploration of the tactics, beliefs, and conflicts of early political parties and figures in America
Grade level: High school (9-12). This lesson specifically is being used in a 10th grade Honors Government class.
Topic/subject: Government: Elections, Primary Documents. History: Jefferson’s Public Life and Politics
Tags: Election of 1800, political parties, Adams, Jefferson, historiography, controversy
Author Information:
Name: Michael Van Wambeke
Email: mjvanwambeke@fcps.edu
School: Robinson Secondary
City: Fairfax
State: VA
Duration: 90 minutes (intended for two 45 minute classes or one full block)
Overview: This lesson is intended for use in a Government class, though it could be easily adapted to a US History course. The lesson is a combination of a few different approaches: students will study primary writings of Jefferson and Adams, examine a range of online documents and images in a DBQ format, and explore historical interpretations through the use of scholarly texts.
Prior knowledge: Students should have a foundational understanding of US Government or History, and at least a passing awareness on the importance of George Washington as a political figure. The Election of 1800 presentation (used in part for this lesson) on Google Arts and Culture would also serve for context and extensions in the classroom setting for students requiring additional background.
Standards:
VA State Standards for Government
GOVT. 1 The student will demonstrate mastery of the social studies skills responsible citizenship requires, including the ability to
a) analyze primary and secondary source documents;
c) analyze political cartoons, political advertisements, pictures, and other graphic media; g) select and defend positions in writing, discussion, and debate.
GOVT. 6 The student will demonstrate knowledge of local, state, and national elections by
a)describing the organization, role, and constituencies of political parties;
d) analyzing the influence of media coverage, campaign advertising, public opinion polls, and Internet-based communications on elections;
VA State Standards for US History
VUS. 1 The student will demonstrate skills for historical and geographical analysis and responsible citizenship, including the ability to
a) identify, analyze, and interpret primary and secondary source documents, records, and data, including artifacts, diaries, letters, photographs, journals, newspapers, historical accounts, and art, to increase understanding of events and life in the United States;
c) formulate historical questions and defend findings, based on inquiry and interpretation;
f) develop skills in discussion, debate, and persuasive writing with respect to enduring issues and determine how divergent viewpoints have been addressed and reconciled;
VUS. 6 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the major events from the last decade of the eighteenth century through the first half of the nineteenth century by
a) explaining the principles and issues that prompted Thomas Jefferson to organize the first opposition political party;
Common Core Literacy Standards (Grades 9 and 10)
Key Ideas and Details:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.1: Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources, attending to such features as the date and origin of the information.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.2: Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of how key events or ideas develop over the course of the text.
Craft and Structure:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.6: Compare the point of view of two or more authors for how they treat the same or similar topics, including which details they include and emphasize in their respective accounts.
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.8: Assess the extent to which the reasoning and evidence in a text support the author’s claims.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.9: Compare and contrast treatments of the same topic in several primary and secondary sources.
Objectives:
Students will understand…
Students will be able to…
Students will know…
Steps/Procedure:
Materials:
Assessment(s): This lesson is formative, and teacher should assess students on their handling of the questions and class discussion as they see fit. A sample key and grading scale for the document study has been provided.
Assessment Criteria: Document study key and grading scale
Accommodations:
Source List:
“A Nation Divided: The Election of 1800.” Google Cultural Institute. Thomas Jefferson Foundation, n.d. Web. 26 July 2016.
“Feuding Founders” Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. YouTube, 8 June 2016. Web. 26 July 2016.
“From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Priestley, 21 March 1801.” Founders Online. National Archives, 12 July 2016. Web. 26 July 2016.
Horn, James. “Election of 1800.” Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. N.p., Spring 2000. Web. 26 July 2016.
“John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 14 June 1813.” Founders Online. National Archives, 12 July 2016. Web. 26 July 2016.
“Letter from Alexander Hamilton, Concerning the Public Conduct …” Founders Online. National Archives, 12 July 2016. Web. 26 July 2016.
“Nation Divided Over Presidential Election.” Monticello Newsletter 27.1 (2016): n. pag. Thomas Jefferson Foundation. Web. 26 July 2016.