Press Conference: Founding Brothers

Date – Monday, September 26, 1800

 

Roles:                                                                         Journalists:

Thomas Jefferson                                                          Federalist

James Madison                                                             Democratic Republican

John Adams

Alexander Hamilton

George Washington (we are imagining he lived until 1800)

Aaron Burr

 

The Conference:

Each of you will act as BOTH an historical figure AND a journalist.  If the character you are playing is a Federalist, you will play a Federalist journalist and the same is true for the Republican roles.  We will have a series of “conferences” on a few issues: Hamilton’s financial plan and the national bank, major domestic issues (slavery, the location of the capital, the role of the President), foreign relations, and the election of 1800 (be sure to bring up the Alien and Sedition Acts).  You will be an historical figure for one of the conferences and a journalist for the others.

 

When you are an historical figure, you must make a 1-2 minute opening statement on the issue AND you must be prepared to answer the journalists’ questions.  The journalists must write four questions for each of the conferences for which they will be a journalist.  The journalists are partisan (just as they were at the time) and their questions should either make the members of their party look good OR they should seek to point out the weaknesses of the other side.  The journalists questions should be directed at specific historical figures.  Write your at least one question for each characters.  Make this clear at the beginning of the question. 

 

Listed below are the historical figures for each conference.

 

1. Hamilton’s Financial Plan, the National Bank, and major domestic issues:  (asking press-conference questions of group 2)

Alexander Hamilton - Katie                   Thomas Jefferson - Jonathan

James Madison - Susannah                   

 

2. Foreign Relations: (asking press-conference questions of group 3)

 

George Washington - Usha                    James Madison - Sarah            

Alexander Hamilton - Perry                   Thomas Jefferson - Ali 

 

3. The Election of 1800 and Adams’ Presidency: (asking press-conference questions of group 1)

 

John Adams - Will                                 Thomas Jefferson - Jack

Alexander Hamilton - Sophie                  Aaron Burr - Iain

           

Your Grade:

You will be graded on the level and quality of your participation in the press conference. At the end of the conference, you will turn in your questions and the opening statements. These will be part of your grade.  This will count as a quiz grade.