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New Nation Federalist Presidents
Presidents George Washington and John Adams
Planning this mini-unit
New Nation: Federalist Presidents is the second mini-unit of Unit 3: new Nation. This mini-unit is taught after “Articles of Confederation and the Constitution,” the first mini-unit in Unit 3: New Nation and before “Early Politics and Western Expansion” the first mini-unit of Unit 4: Growing Sectionalism. Click 
HERE to get a copy of my pacing guide.
Pacing
Teachers should plan three to five days to teach this unit on a traditional schedule with one-hour class periods. However, for those on a block schedule with 1 1/2 hour classes, teachers should plan for 2-3 days. An effective way to structure this unit includes:
Openers
- The First Cabinet
- Proclaiming American Neutrality
- Washington’s Farewell Address
- Federalists and Democratic-Republicans
- Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
This FREE resource includes 5 openers to use in order to supplement this unit. Begin each class with an opener question. Opener questions can be found on this webpage as an image (see “opener questions” at the bottom of this webpage) or free on TpT (see link). Give students 3-5 minutes to complete the opener question and allow 5-10 minutes for class discussion. Instead of openers, teachers may use this as an end of class check for understanding.
see link). Give students 3-5 minutes to complete the opener question and allow 5-10 minutes for class discussion. Instead of openers, teachers may use this as an end of class check for understanding. 
Lessons
After the opener, begin the Google Slides lesson. Students can take notes on paper using the note-taking guide provided with the Google Slides lesson, or they may take notes digitally with the electronic version (also included with the Google Slides).
- TEACHER TIP: I post a PDF version of the Google Slides to Google Classroom so that students can review their notes if they are absent. To do this, click “File, Download, PDF” on the Google Slide.
- TEACHER TIP: Some teachers post Google Slides in their Google Classroom and digital note-taking guides for students to complete as homework.
- TEACHER TIP: When pressed for time, I will edit the note-taking guides to include answers for some boxes or delete boxes and slides entirely. Teachers should feel free to modify the lesson to meet their students’ needs and individual learning targets.
- After teaching a concept, take a break from the lecture and show a quick review video to reinforce the concepts. Suggested videos to enhance the lesson are on this webpage.
- Mix up your unit by having the students complete the PROP (Point, Reason to lie or distort, Other sources, Public/private) analysis. For a free resource that reviews PROP, click HERE.
- TIP TEACHER: Group students together to complete this activity. This strategy sparks conversation and encourages critical analysis. Discussed as a class.
- Review additional suggested activities found on this webpage:
- FREE: Alexander Hamilton from Bill of Rights Institute
- FREE: The Legislative Process from Bill of Rights Institute
- FREE: First Actions of Congress from Bill of Rights Institute
- FREE: Aaron Burr and Ambition from Bill of Rights Institute
- FREE: Be Washington in the Whiskey Rebellion from Bill of Rights Institute
- FREE: Hamilton v. Jefferson from Stanford History Education Group
5. Print the Prove It activity included in the Google Slides lesson at the end of the unit. Students read statements and determine if they are true or false. If the statement is false, they correct it. This lesson encourages students to review their note-taking guide.
key terms to know
People to Know
- George Washington
- John Adams
- Thomas Jefferson
- Alexander Hamilton
- Edmund Randolph
- James Madison
Key Terms
- Judiciary Act of 1789
- National Bank
- Federalists
- Anti-Federalists
- Democratic-Republicans
- Loose Construction of the Constitution
- Strict Construction of the Constitution
- Alien and Sedition Acts
- Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
- Nullify
Events
- Whiskey Rebellion
- Washington’s Farewell Address
- XYZ Affair
- Election of 1800
Essential Questions
1. What were George Washington’s initial priorities as president?
2. Explain the Judiciary Act of 1789. Why is it important?
3. What was Hamilton’s plan to solve the national debt problem? Examine the arguments for and against that plan.
4. How was the Whiskey Rebellion a test of the Constitution? What did the rebellion prove about the Constitution?
5. What were some foreign policy challenges for the early republic? How did Washington and Adams address those challenges?
6. What advice did Washington layout for America in his farewell address?
7. What are the Alien and Sedition Acts? To what extent did that legislation affect the election of 1800?
8. What are the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions? What do the Resolutions prove about possible flaws in the Constitution?
35 Slides (editable) with graphic organizer note-taking guide and summative assessment worksheet. This Google Slides reviews the first two American Presidents and the election of 1800.
This Google Slides:
- Editable
- Has checks for understanding/thinking questions throughout the Google Slides
- Interesting and varied graphic design
- A variety of different sources to catch your students’ attention and engage them with the content: maps, charts, primary sources, quotes, timelines, etc.
- Major Concepts Reviewed:
- Washington’s first actions
- Vice President John Adams
- The First Cabinet
- The Judiciary Act of 1789
- Hamilton’s Financial Plan and the First National Bank
- The Whiskey Rebellion
- US Foreign Policy in Europe
- Washington’s Farewell Address
- The Adams Administration
- Examining Political Parties: Federalists and Democratic-Republicans
- The XYZ Affair
- Alien and Sedition Acts
- Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
- The Election of 1800
Note-Taking Guide with a Teacher’s Key:
- Works with Google Classroom (students can type in a document, or handwrite)
- Includes ideas on how to use this in your lesson
- Great for IEP, 504, EL students or students who need modifications
- Helps students be accountable for information during lecture
- Comes with print and digital notetaking guides.
Post-Notes Analysis Worksheet with a Teacher’s Key:
- Works with Google Classroom (students can type in a document or handwrite)
- Includes ideas on how to use this in your lesson
- Has a True/False checking for understanding
- Includes a document that connects to information from the slides.
- Comes with print and digital post-notes analysis guides.
- Students are asked to ” Prove It,” “Analyze It” “Personalize It” and “Explore Limitations.”
Helpful Videos for Your Students
Unit Activities
Click on the images below to access these suggested resources
Be Washington: Whiskey Rebellion
BRI: Bill of Rights Institute
Actions of the First Congress
BRI: Bill of Rights Institute
The Legislative Process
BRI: Bill of Rights Institute
Self-Interest or Republicanism
BRI: Bill of Rights Institute
Alexander Hamilton
BRI: Bill of Rights Institute
Shays’ Rebellion
SHEG: Stanford History Education Group
quick links
hey there
Thank you for stopping by Teacher Bistro. I created this place as a resource for educators who wanted a easy way to find resources. In my first ten years of teaching I can’t tell you how many hours I spent gathering lesson plans, video guides and lectures. Hopefully, you have added this site to your bookmarks, and this place can make teaching a little bit easier.