Why did Alexander Hamilton support a single and powerful executive leader? What was his role at the Constitutional Convention and in the new United States government?

Students will:

• explain Hamilton’s reasoning in support of a single and powerful executive leader.
• understand Hamilton’s role at the Constitutional Convention.
• understand the historical context and purpose of The Federalist Papers.
• analyze Federalist and Anti-Federalist views about the nature of the executive branch.
• evaluate the effectiveness of Hamilton’s arguments in excerpts from Federalist No. 70.
• appreciate the role Hamilton played in shaping the new United States government.

Student Handouts

• Handout A—Alexander Hamilton (1757–1804)
• Handout B—Vocabulary and Context Questions
• Handout C—In His Own Words: Alexander Hamilton on the Constitution
• Handout D—Outline of Federalist No. 70

Additional Teacher Resource

• Answer Key