Last updated: February 18, 2023
Lesson Plan
Albert Gallatin: A Most Astonishing Man - Gallatin’s Start in Politics - Lesson 1
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- Grade Level:
- Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade
- Subject:
- Social Studies
- Lesson Duration:
- 30 Minutes
- Common Core Standards:
- 6-8.RH.2, 6-8.RH.4, 5.RI.2, 5.RI.3, 5.RI.4
- 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 Albert Gallatin’s political beliefs?
Objective
By the end of this lesson the students will be able to:
• State what the amendments to the United States Constitution that Gallatin worked on were called
• State the term used for people with Gallatin’s political point of view
Background
In this lesson the students will use a student reading to learn about Gallatin's early political career. Then using an activity sheet the students will match related vocabulary words with their definitions.
Preparation
Read the teacher background information on Albert Gallatin and make copies of the student reading and the activity worksheet.
Materials
Download Lesson 1 - Gallatin's Start in Politics
Download Background information for the teacheer
Lesson Hook/Preview
Although George Washington was unanimously elected the first president of the United States, that doesn't mean people accepted all of his plans and ideas. Find out what Albert Gallatin thought about early United States politics.
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
Constitution - the document passed into law in 1788 which established the framework of the United States of America's government
Democracy - a system of government by the people
Anti-Federalist - a person who was distrustful of a strong central government that would be created under the US constitution
Bill of Rights - the first ten amendments to the Constitution
Assessment Materials
The assessment is included in the lesson plan. It includes the answers to the activity worksheet.
Supports for Struggling Learners
You can read the material out loud to the students or go over the material as a class.
Enrichment Activities
Have the students compare and contrast the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists with today’s Republicans and Democrats.
Additional Resources
Friendship Hill National Historic Site website: www.nps.gov/frhi
Related Lessons or Education Materials
This is lesson 1 of the curriculum Albert Gallatin: A Most Astonishing Man. You can find links to the other lessons below.
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 Treasury
Lesson 7: Gallatin's Family and Timeline
You can also download all seven lessons, the entire 32-page curriculum Albert Gallatin: A Most Astonishing Man.