Starter:

Describe what actions Alexander Hamilton took to stabilize the United States economy.

(You may use your textbook)

18th Century Political Cartoons

Analyzing history through media

Thomas Jefferson – 3rd president of the United States is depicted on the left.

What does it mean?

This 1806 cartoon skewers both Thomas Jefferson and the Lewis & Clark Expedition. Jefferson is portrayed as one of the newly discovered prairie dogs. Stung by the hornet (Napoleon), he's spewing gold coins at the feet of a dancing Spaniard eager to palm off the Floridas on the greedy Jefferson. Courtesy Library of Congress.

Describe what is going on in this cartoon.

What is Amalgamation?

Amalgamation |əˌmalgəˈmā sh ən|

Noun:

the action, process, or result of combining or uniting : the threat of amalgamation with a competitor | an amalgamation of two separate companies.

Alien & Sedition Act (write down)

The Alien and Sedition Act authorized the President to arrest and deport immigrants who criticized the federal government. Because most immigrants supported the Republicans, the Federalists made it difficult for them to become citizens.

What is the cartoonist’s view of Congress?

Fighting over the Alien & Sedition Act

An actual fight between Representatives Matthew Lyon of Vermont and Roger Griswold of Connecticut. They exchange insults and Lyon spits on Griswold and they came to blows. Lyon was the first person tried under the Alien and Sedition Acts and was the first and only Congressman elected while in jail.

What does this imply?

Personal attack on the President

He was a member of both Continental Congresses and he signed the Declaration of Independence. He was the first Vice President of the United States. His detractors called him "His Rotundity" because he was short and heavy. He was also the 2nd president of the United States.

Thomas Jefferson & Sally Hemings

Cartoon critical of Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson as the rooster, courts a hen, portrayed as Sally Hemings (his slave). Contemporary political opponents of Jefferson sought to destroy his presidency and his new political party with charges of Jefferson’s promiscuous behavior and his ownership of slaves. The rooster was also a symbol of revolutionary France, which Jefferson was known to admire and which, his critics believed, Jefferson unduly favored.

 

Thomas Jefferson

A political cartoon from 1801, which depicts Thomas Jefferson joining forces with Satan to take down the government. Political mudslinging in US politics dates as far back as 1800, when Thomas Jefferson was attacked by ministers who accused him of being an “infidel” and an “unbeliever."

In-Class Assignment

Individual work

Create a timeline of major events from 1789 – 1812.

Please include dates with your timeline.

Can include people, places, events, court cases, etc.

Your timeline is what you deem important during this time period.