Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2016 i Cobblestone American History and Current Events for Kids and Children

He was not born or raised in the 13 Colonies, but he made their cause his own as they struggled to become independent from Great Britain. He took up arms to fight as an officer in the Revolutionary War. Then he took up his pen to fight with words and ideas. Many of his concepts about a strong national government and sound finances continue to have an impact today. Some of his ideas put him in conflict with others, but his confidence in himself and his ability to think and write clearly made his opinions matter. His hard work, intelligence, and passion earned him a place in history as one of the most pivotal Founding Fathers. Allow us to introduce Alexander Hamilton! Editor…

As General George Washington’s aide-de-camp, Alexander Hamilton became part of a military family. He got to know top army officers, political leaders, and the social elite of the American Colonies. Although he longed to see military action, he enjoyed both the status and the social whirl that came with his position at army headquarters. Evenings brought dinners, balls, and friendships with the daughters of his superiors. In April 1779, however, Alexander began thinking of marriage. Writing to his friend and fellow aide-de-camp John Laurens, he playfully asked Laurens to find him a wife. She must be “sensible” and “well bred,” as well as young, handsome, faithful, generous, and moderately religious, but no saint. Most important, she should have a fortune—“the larger stock of that the better.” His tone was sportive…

Managing money for a family is a big job. Managing finances for a whole government is another thing altogether. That task was even more daunting for Alexander Hamilton. After Hamilton convinced George Washington to accept the nomination as the first U.S. president, Washington in turn persuaded Hamilton to be one of four members of his Cabinet. Hamilton became the country’s first secretary of the Treasury in 1789. Hamilton was basically starting from scratch. The newly ratified U.S. Constitution gave the national government greater authority and power than had existed under the Articles of Confederation, but the government also faced huge problems. Hamilton had ideas about how to address many of them, and he captured his ideas in a series of reports. Dealing With Debt Hamilton’s First Report on the Public…

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Using hip-hop, rap, blues, and rock, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway hit, Hamilton: An American Musical , tells the story of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton’s 18th-century life through songs that have a distinctly 21st-century sound. Alexander Hamilton, Broadway, and U.S. history may never be the same! But why should Alexander Hamilton get all the fun? Our challenge to you is to pick an American figure and compose a rap about his or her impact on U.S. history. Not familiar with the Hamilton soundtrack? We recommend listening to a few songs—lots of options are available on-line. Atlantic Records also has a site that includes all the lyrics to the songs at atlanticrecords.com/HamiltonMusic/ . (Check with a parent before you download or buy anything!)…

The morning of July 11, 1804, dawned warm and humid. A boat made its way from New York across the Hudson River to the New Jersey shore. It landed near Weehawken Heights at 6:30 a.m. The boatman was ferrying three men: Aaron Burr, and two of Burr’s friends—John Swarthout and William Van Ness. Burr and Van Ness climbed a short distance inland to a grassy ledge, about six feet wide and 20 feet above the water’s edge. They began clearing away the undergrowth. At 7:00 a.m., a second boatman deposited three more passengers on the same shore: Alexander Hamilton, Nathaniel Pendleton, and Dr. David Hosack. Hosack remained with the boat, while Hamilton and Pendleton climbed to the ledge. Hamilton and Burr nodded formally to each other, and the two seconds…

Alexander Hamilton fought in the Revolutionary War. He argued passionately for adoption of the U.S. Constitution. He helped shape the country’s financial system as its first secretary of the Treasury. And now Hamilton has a new role—as the lead character in a hit Broadway musical. Hamilton: An American Musical is about history, but the show looks and sounds like America today. Rap, hip-hop, rhythm and blues, and even 1960s-style pop-rock music help tell the story of Hamilton, the “$10 Founding Father.” And while Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, and other historical figures were white men, most of the show’s performers are of Latino, African American, or other non-European descent. COBBLESTONE spoke with Miguel Cervantes, who has been part of the Broadway cast and will star as Hamilton…

Dueling—which created basically a trial by single combat—once was used as a way to settle disputes or to defend honor among gentlemen—or gentlewomen, as can be seen here! A Wooden Sword? Japanese warrior Miyamoto Musashi was a ronin— a samurai without a master—who fought more than 60 duels in his lifetime. His most famous duel was in 1612 with his arch enemy, Sasaki Kojiro, who was rumored to be just as skilled with the sword as Musashi was. The two warriors agreed to a meet on a small island. Kojiro arrived on time, but Musashi was three hours late and came armed with an enormous sword he had carved from the oar of a boat. He may have arrived late in order to psych out Kojiro, or he may have…

Her husband told her that she was the “best of wives and best of women.” But this month’s mystery hero was so much more than just a good wife. Born into a wealthy family in colonial New York in 1757, our young hero enjoyed a privileged childhood. Her childhood home was the most elegant mansion in Albany. Because of her family’s money and power, she was tutored at home and learned the skills and basic knowledge that a young lady in colonial times was permitted to learn. Our hero’s mind was sharp. As a teenager, she met many important people who visited her influential parents. Guests included patriots and military leaders during the tense years before the Revolutionary War (1775–1783). Our young lady impressed them with her charm and intellect.…

By the time Alexander Hamilton enrolled as a student at King’s College (present-day Columbia University) in the fall of 1773, a revolutionary movement was sweeping through the Colonies. Hamilton joined a local militia company. He soon became as absorbed in muskets and drill manuals as he was in his schoolwork. In March 1776, his military studies paid off. He was appointed captain of the newly established New York Provincial Artillery Company. Within weeks, his odd collection of recruits were marching and drilling with precision. In April 1776, General George Washington and his Continental Army arrived in New York City. Both the British and the Americans recognized the importance of controlling the city’s port and harbor. Hamilton and his men joined the Continental Army in its efforts to defend the city.…

Two and a half years passed before all 13 states ratified the Constitution. Between early December 1787 and early January 1788, several small states, including Delaware, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut, approved it. Those states needed the protection of a large union to survive. Pennsylvania Federalists had called a convention before their opponents could organize and was the second state to ratify the document in December 1787. Massachusetts ratified it in February 1788 but added a list of suggested amendments. Later that spring, Maryland and South Carolina followed suit. June 1788 saw the opening of crucial conventions. Only one more state was needed to approve the Constitution, but the new Union would have little meaning without the presence and support of both Virginia and New York. New Hampshire became the…

• Lin-Manuel Miranda was inspired to write the play after reading Alexander Hamilton by historian Ron Chernow (2004) while on vacation. • Miranda performed a version of his opening song for Hamilton at a White House poetry event in 2009. • Miranda wrote the book, music, and lyrics for the show. He worked on the project for six years before it reached the stage. The show opened on Broadway on August 6, 2015. • The play was nominated for a record-setting 16 Tony Awards in 2016. It won 11 of those awards, including Best Musical. Also in 2016, an album recording of the original cast won a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, and the play won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. • The show’s popularity has made tickets…

Want to learn more about Alexander Hamilton? We recommend that you visit the New-York Historical Society’s on-line exhibit of Hamilton at www.alexanderhamiltonexhibition.org/index.html. There’s a virtual tour of some of the items in the exhibit, such as the pistols used in Hamilton’s duel with Aaron Burr and his “lap top,” the portable desk that Hamilton used for writing. My favorite object was the Spanish two-real (pronounced RAY-al) coin. The Spanish dollar was known as a “piece of eight” because it was worth eight reales. It looks like pirate treasure! The Colonel liked exploring the Gallery of Peers section, which described Hamilton’s connection to a number of famous contemporaries. There’s a virtual walking tour, a time line of his life, and sample pages from documents that he wrote. The exhibit originally toured…

Although Alexander Hamilton did not land in New York until he was a teenager, New York became his home. The eastern bluebird also is associated with New York as the state’s official bird. Brilliant blue feathers cover the head and back, while burnt orange fades to white feathers on the breast of the male bluebird. Females have gray-brown feathers on the back. Eastern bluebirds are on the small side, with an average length of between 6 and 8 inches and an average weight of about 1 ounce. Bluebirds like to build their nests in protected cavities found in open meadows or fields. The male attracts a mate by drawing attention to its efforts to bring materials to build a nest, while the female actually builds the nest. Insects and berries…