Last updated: September 26, 2019
Lesson Plan
Albert Gallatin: A Most Astonishing Man - Gallatin as Secretary of the Treasury - Lesson 6
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- Grade Level:
- Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade
- Subject:
- Social Studies
- Lesson Duration:
- 60 Minutes
- Common Core Standards:
- 6-8.RH.1, 6-8.RH.2, 5.RI.1, 5.RI.3, 6.RI.1, 6.RI.3, 7.RI.1, 7.RI.3, 8.RI.1, 8.RI.3, 5.W.1, 5.W.2, 6.W.1, 6.W.2, 7.W.1, 7.W.2, 8.W.1, 8.W.2
- Thinking Skills:
- Remembering: Recalling or recognizing information ideas, and principles. Understanding: Understand the main idea of material heard, viewed, or read. Interpret or summarize the ideas in own words.
Essential Question
What were Gallatin’s struggles and accomplishments as Secretary of the Treasury?
Objective
By the end of this lesson the students will be able to:
• Define the term national debt
• State Gallatin’s view on the national debt
• List three important items the US spent money on during the time Gallatin was Secretary of the Treasury
Background
Gallatin moved into the political spotlight when he became Secretary of the Treasury. Students will read about this part of Gallatin's career. Then using an activity worksheet the students will have to make some tough choices to develop the United States budget.
Preparation
Read the teacher background information on Albert Gallatin and make copies of the student reading and the activity worksheet.
Materials
Download Lesson 6 - Gallatin as Secretary of the Treasury
Download Background information for the teacher
Lesson Hook/Preview
As Secretary of the Treasury Gallatin was in charge of estimating how much money the federal government would collect and how much money it would take to run the government. This was often a hard job. The new United States wanted to spend money on so many things. How do you think you would do if you had to make these difficult decisions as Secretary of the Treasury?
Procedure
- Introduce the guiding question to students.
- Hand out copies of the student reading and the activity worksheet.
- Have the students complete the sheets.
- Review the guiding question.
Vocabulary
Surplus: the government has money becasue it collected more then it spent
Debt: the government has spent more money then it collected so it needed to borrow money that it will pay back
Cabinet: the president's advisors
National debt: the amount of money the federal government is in debt and needs to re-pay
Diplomat: a government official representing his or her country while working in another country
Assessment Materials
The assessment is included in the lesson plan.
Supports for Struggling Learners
You can read the material out loud to the students or go over the material as a class.
Enrichment Activities
Throughout his 68 years of public service Gallatin became friends with many influential people. Research one or more of the people listed below. Make a multi-media report on the person and their connection to Albert Gallatin.
John Quincy Adams
John Jacob Astor
William Clark
Henry Clay
Patrick Henry
Thomas Jefferson
Marquis de LaFayette
Meriwether Lewis
James Madison
John Marshall
James Monroe
George Washington
Additional Resources
Friendship Hill National Historic Site website: www.nps.gov/frhi
Related Lessons or Education Materials
This is lesson 6 of the curriculum Albert Gallatin: A Most Astonishing Man. You can find links to the other lessons below.
Lesson 1: Gallatin's Start in Politics
Lesson 2 : Gallatin and the Whiskey Rebellion
Lesson 3. Gallatin and the Louisiana Purchase
Lesson 4: Gallatin and the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Lesson 5: Gallatin and New Geneva
Lesson 6: Gallatin as Secretary of the TreasuryLesson 7: Gallatin's Family and Timeline
You can also download all seven lessons, the entire 32-page curriculum Albert Gallatin: A Most Astonishing Man.