Our Speeches
we were OVEN the OPPORTUNITY to RESEARCH and wright on a person from the founding era. I chose thomas Jefferson. I saw him as a man who used his skill to further himself and the new land's GOVERNMENT.
we embraced the fact that we all write shitty first drafts. we focused on JUST writing all the info that we had and then from that we'd polish and critique it. out final draft was PERFORMED in front of an audience. some were selected to be RECORDED and sent to the hamilton program to be evaluated. I wrote as if i were thomas jefferson. my main source of information was a primary SOURCE. It was a LETTER from jefferson to Aaron Burr, who was jefferson's competition in the election of 1801 for PRESIDENCY. this letter told burr that a fake letter was given to a judge by a man called Mr. munford. the letter was pretty much talking crap about burr. jefferson wanted no beef with burr, and this letter is proof of this.
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primary source -
Dear Sir,
It was to be expected that the enemy would endeavor to sow tares between us, that they might divide us and our friends. every consideration satisfies me you will be on your guard against this, as I assure you I am strongly. I hear of one stratagem so imposing & so base that it is proper I should notice it to you. mr Munford, who is here, says he saw at N. York before he left it, an original letter of mine to Judge Breckenridge in which are sentiments highly injurious to you. he knows my handwriting and did not doubt that to be genuine. I inclose you a copy taken from the press copy of the only letter I ever wrote to Judge Breckenridge in my life: the press copy itself has been shewn to several of our mutual friends here. of consequence the letter seen by mr Munfordmust be a forgery, and if it contains a sentiment unfriendly or disrespectful to you I affirm it solemnly to be a forgery: as also if it varies from the copy inclosed. with the common trash of slander I should not think of troubling you: but the forgery of one’s handwriting is too imposing to be neglected. a mutual knolege of each other furnishes us with the best test of the contrivances which will be practised by the enemies of both. accept assurances of my high respect and esteem.
Th: Jefferson
Works Cited
“Founders Online: From Thomas Jefferson to Aaron Burr, 1 February 1801.” National Archives and Records Administration, National Archives and Records Administration, founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-32-02-0376.