Lesson Title
The Roles of Jefferson
and Pinckney as
Founding Fathers
Teacher
College of
Charleston, Ann
DuPre and Candice
Solyan
Grade Level
4th
Duration of Lesson
45 minutes
Lesson Topic
The roles of Jefferson and Pinckney as Founding Fathers.
SC Standards
and Indicators
SS Standard 4-4: The student will demonstrate an
understanding of the beginnings of America as a nation and the
establishment of the new government.
Indicator 4-4.4: Compare the roles and accomplishments of
early leaders in the development of the new nation, including
George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander
Hamilton, John Marshall, and James Madison.
(2011) SS Standard 4-4: The student will demonstrate an
understanding of the beginnings of America as a nation and the
establishment of the new government.
Indicator 4-4.4: Compare the roles and accomplishments of early
leaders in the development of the new nation, including George
Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander
Hamilton, John Marshall, and James Madison.
Academic
Vocabulary

Founding Father- Political leaders and statesmen who participated
in the American Revolution by signing the Declaration of
Independence, taking part in the American Revolution, establishing
the United States Constitution, or by some other key contribution.

Constitutional Convention - A meeting held in Philadelphia with
representatives from 12 of the 13 of the states (Rhode Island was
absent) to determine what the laws for governing the United States
would be.

Declaration of Independence- Act of Continental Congress on July
4, 1776, declaring the 13 British colonies in North America no
longer belonged to the British Empire.

Embargo - A government prevents trade with a particular country.

Empire- A large group of states and peoples united and ruled either
by a monarch, emperor, empress or a small, usually corrupt, group
of people.

Governor- A person appointed to govern a province or colony. The
elected head of any state of the United States.

Democratic Republican Party- American political party founded in
the early 1790s by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.

Louisiana Purchase- Acquisition by the United States of America
of 828,800 square miles (2,147,000 km2) of France's claim to the
territory of Louisiana in 1803.

Lewis and Clark Expedition-(1804–1806) First United States
journey to explore the land between the Mississippi River and the
Pacific Coast It was led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.

Embargo Act Laws- American laws restricting American ships
from engaging in foreign trade between the years of 1807 and 1812
with Britain and France. They led to the War of 1812 between the
U.S. and Britain.

War with Britain in 1812- Military conflict fought between the
forces of the United States of America and those of the British
Empire.

Jeffersonian Democracy- Named for Thomas Jefferson. This party
did not want the Federal Government to have a lot of power. They
represented the common man.

U.S. Constitution- Supreme law of the United States of America.
The Constitution is a set of laws that explains how our country is to
be set up and governed.

Slave Trade- Refers to the trade in slaves that took place across the
Atlantic Ocean from the sixteenth through to the nineteenth
centuries.

Secretary of State- A title for the person who represents their
government to other governments around the world.
Lesson Materials

George Washington-First president of the United States. He was
the dominant military and political leader of the new United States
of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over
Britain in the American Revolutionary War.

Second Continental Congress- Convention of delegates from the
Thirteen Colonies that met beginning on May 10, 1775, in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, after the fighting at Lexington and
Concord.

American Revolution- A war between the Kingdom of Great
Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America for
independence from Great Britain (1775-1783).






PowerPoint on Charles Pinckney and Thomas Jefferson
Graphic Organizer
Venn Diagram
Paper and Pencil
Test
Test Answer Key
Lesson Set
Content
Objective(s)
Students will be able to compare the roles and accomplishments of early
leaders in the development of the new nation, including Thomas
Jefferson and Charles Pinckney.
Literacy
Objective(s)
Students will be able to pull out important information for a worksheet
from the readings. They will compare and contrast the two figures using
a Venn diagram, and write a paragraph detailing the similarities and
differences between the two.
Standard 4-2: The student reads and comprehends print and non-print
informational text.
Indicator 4-2.1: Analyze evidence which supports the
central idea.
Indicator 4-2.2: Use information within and across texts
draw conclusions and make inferences.
to
Standard 4-4: The student creates writing which includes a clear focus,
coherent organization, sufficient elaboration, effective voice, and
appropriate use of conventions.
Indicator 4-4.1: Use pre-writing strategies such as graphic
organizers, brainstorming, and literary models.
Indicator 4-4.2: Create paragraphs that include central
and supporting details.
Lesson
Importance
Accomplishments and roles of leaders in developing a nation.
Connections to
prior and future
learning
Prior knowledge
- The students have prior knowledge that there are Founding
Fathers of the United States of America.
ideas
Future Learning
- Students are now finding out more details of the importance of
these leaders.
Anticipatory
Set/ Hook
(Engage)
1. Teacher shows on the PowerPoint a picture of Thomas Jefferson and
a picture of Charles Pinckney (Slide1).
2. TTW ask, Who can tell me who these people are? Does anyone
know or have any guesses? These are two important and influential
American leaders that we will be discussing today.
Skill Development
Content components to
be introduced
Students will compare the roles of Jefferson and Pinckney
through the use of the PowerPoint on Jefferson and Pinckney.
I do
Procedures:
Skill from literacy
objective
1. Teacher uses the PowerPoint presentation to provide a
guide and knowledge on Charles Pinckney and Thomas
Jefferson. The PowerPoint will show the 5 main concepts of
introduce/explain/model
who they were, details of their life, what they did, what their
views were and their attitude toward slavery.
2. The first figure we will look at is Charles Pinckney.
3. Before we get started, can you tell me something about
Pinckney? Talk to your neighbor to gather information about
Pinckney.
4. SLIDE 2: Here he is again. Students are asked to
contribute information from brainstorming with neighbor.
5. SLIDE 3:
Some of you might best know Pinckney as Governor of South
Carolina or as one of the authors/signers of the Constitution.
Pinckney was a founding father. What is a founding father?
(Political leaders and statesmen who participated in the
American Revolution by signing the Declaration of
Independence, taking part in the American Revolution,
establishing the United States Constitution, or by some other
key contribution). Pinckney was a major contributor and
signer of the Constitution of the United States. What is the U.
S.? Constitution? (Supreme law of the United States of
America. The Constitution is a set of written laws that explain
how our country is to be set up and governed). During his
lifetime, Pinckney was a governor of South Carolina four
times. Who knows what a governor is? (A person appointed
to govern a province or colony, or the elected head of any
state of the United States).

6. SLIDE 4:
Let’s talk about the details of his life. He was born in
South Carolina in 1757. He practiced law in South
Carolina from 1779-1780. He was a lieutenant in the
Continental Army and was captured by the British and
held prisoner. What was the American Revolution? (A
war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen
British colonies in North America for independence from
Great Britain (1775-1783). He attended the Second
Constitutional Convention in 1787 as a delegate or
representative from South Carolina. He wrote a large
portion of the Constitution. What was the Constitutional
Convention? (A meeting held in Philadelphia with
representatives from 12ofthe13 states. They met to write
the laws for governing the United). After signing it, he
went back to SC to encourage people to approve it. He
was the governor of SC from 1789-1790, 1791-1792,
1796-1798 and 1806-1808. In 1798 he was elected a U S
Senator. He was Ambassador to Spain from 1801-1805.
He served in the United States House of Representatives
1818-1821. He died in 1824.
7. SLIDE 5:
Let’s discuss what he did. We know he wrote and signed the
Constitution of the United States. He returned to South
Carolina to convince the citizens of South Carolina to adopt
the Constitution. He was the leader of the committee that
wrote the Constitution for South Carolina. One of the major
ideas written in South Carolina Constitution was the right of
religious freedom. He believed in a limited Federal
Government. He became a supporter of the common man and
moved the capital of South Carolina from Charleston to
Columbia. He supported Thomas Jefferson for President
instead of his cousin Charles Cotesworth Pinckney. This
made his family very angry with him. He was appointed
Ambassador to Spain by Jefferson and helped to negotiate the
Louisiana Purchase. We will discuss this when we talk about
Jefferson.
8. SLIDE 6:
Let’s discuss his views and beliefs that were important at that
time. He idealized the virtues of the new Republic. He
believed that there should be 3 branches of governmentExecutive, Legislative and Judicial. He favored State’s Rights
and a limited federal government led by a president
(Executive Branch). He believed the legislative branch
should be two bodies to make the laws for the country (House
of Representatives and Senate) and a Supreme Court
(Judicial) to decide on disputes about the Constitution. He
believed the Federal Government should coin the money,
establish post offices, and establish an army and a navy
headed by the President. He felt the rights of individuals
should be established and prisoners should be returned to the
correct authority. He supported religious freedom for all
men.
9. SLIDE 7:
He had specific views on slavery. He believed that each State
should be able to decide whether they would support slavery
or not support slavery. He had slaves to help run his
plantations. He believed that slaves should be counted in the
population for determining the number of seats in the House
of Representatives but did not want them to be counted to
determine the amount of tax paid to the federal government
(3/5 Rule).
10. TTW asks the students if anyone has questions about
Pinckney.
11. The second figure we will look at is Thomas Jefferson.
We are going to learn who he was, details of his life, what he
accomplished, what his political views were and his attitude
toward slavery.
12. Before we get started, can you tell me something about
Jefferson? Talk to your neighbor to gather information about
Jefferson.
13. SLIDE 8: Here he is again (same picture as the
introduction slide). Students are asked to contribute
information from brainstorming with neighbor.
14. SLIDE 9:
Some of you might best know Jefferson as a president of the
United States and/or as the writer of the Declaration of
Independence. Which number president he was? (He was
the third.) Who were the first and second presidents?
(George Washington and John Adams) (If students have
trouble with that, ask if they at least know who the first
president of the United States was). He was a vice president
under John Adam, before he was president. Can anyone
explain what a vice president does? (Assist the president and
takes over if president dies). Jefferson is also a founding
father. What is a Founding Father? (Political leaders and
statesmen who participated in the American Revolution by
signing the Declaration of Independence, taking part in the
American Revolution, establishing the United States
Constitution, or by some other key contribution). Jefferson
was the main writer of the Declaration of Independence.
What is the Declaration of Independence? (Act of Continental
Congress on July 4, 1776, declaring that 13 British colonies
in North America no longer belonged to the British Empire).
During his lifetime, Jefferson was a governor of Virginia.
What is a governor? (A person appointed to govern a
province or colony, or the elected head of any state of the
United States). He was the co-founder and leader of the
Democratic-Republican Party, which we will discuss later.
15. SLIDE 10:
Let’s talk about the details of his life. He was born in
Virginia in1743. He practiced law in Virginia from 1768 to
1773. He attended the Second Continental Congress in 1775,
as a delegate, or representative from Virginia. He wrote the
Declaration of Independence which was presented at the
Congress. After making changes to the document, it was
signed by Jefferson and the other Founding Fathers on July 4,
1776. He was the governor of Virginia from 1779 to 1781.
From 1790-1793, he was the U.S. Secretary of State under
George Washington. He was president from 1801 to 1809. He
died on July 4, 1826 at the age of 83
16. SLIDE 11:
Let’s discuss what he did. We know he wrote and signed the
Declaration of Independence, which declared that the
American colonies were free from the rule of Great Britain.
As president, he negotiated the Louisiana Purchase. What
was the Louisiana Purchase? (Acquisition by the United
States of America of 828,800 square miles (2,147,000 km2) of
France's claim to the territory of Louisiana in 1803.) He sent
Lewis and Clark to explore the West (Meriwether Lewis and
William Clark led the first United States expedition (1804–
1806) to the Pacific Coast). The main goal was to find a direct
& practicable water route across the United States, for the
purposes of trade (the Northwest Passage). Another goal of
the expedition was to establish a firm claim of ‘discovery’ to
the Pacific Northwest for control of the land and the fur trade.
In order to accomplish this, Jefferson had the men follow the
rivers, map them, and collect scientific data. He created
Jeffersonian Democracy, political ideas that support a federal
government with limited powers. We will discuss that later.
He was the author of the Virginia Statute for Religious
Freedom. He sponsored the embargo laws that restricted
American ships from engaging in foreign trade with Britain
and France between the years of 1807 and 1812 This led to
the War of 1812 between the United States and Britain.
17. SLIDE 12:
Let’s discuss his views and beliefs. He idealized the virtues of
the new republic. He saw America as a land of liberty that
spreads freedom throughout the world. He favored religious
freedom and protection from government authorities. He
believed in a limited federal government. Lastly, he
supported the separation of church and state. Who knows
what that is? (The government cannot choose one religion for
the whole country. You can worship as you wish or not at
all).
18. SLIDE 13:
He had specific views on slavery.
Jefferson used slave labor to support his household and
plantations. However, his opposition to slavery was well
known in the Declaration of Independence. He was a leader
in putting an end to the slave trade. Who knows what the
slave trade is? (It refers to the trade in slaves that took place
across the Atlantic ocean from the sixteenth through to the
nineteenth centuries.) Although he took action to end slavery
during his term, it was not accomplished during his
presidency.
19. TTW ask the students if anyone has questions about
Jefferson.
Guided Practice
We do
1. TTW provide a review of Pinckney and Jefferson
highlighting details of their lives, views, contributions and
the various offices they held.
2. TTW put students into the groups of 4.
3. TTW hand out the graphic organizers for students to put
any notes regarding Pinckney and Jefferson from the
Power Point.
Activity
Description
Include student
explore
components and
opportunities for
them to explain
their learning.
Checking for
UnderstandingInformal
Assessment
Formative Individual Assessment:
-TTW walk to each group and ask the students why they decided
that the information they pulled from the slides was important for
Charles Pinckney and for Jefferson.
-Our formative individual assessment is also the Venn Diagram
during independent practice.
Instructional Closure
Content
Solidified
1. TTW facilitate a brief class discussion comparing and
contrasting the information found about Thomas Jefferson and
Charles Pinckney.
2. What are some things that you found to be the same or different
about the two men?
Independent Practice: Ideally suited for independent practice but may be
accomplished co-operative learning groups or guided practice.
You do
1. Using information from the PowerPoint and class discussion,
students will create a Venn diagram on Thomas Jefferson and
Charles Pinckney. This can be accomplished independently or in
a small group setting.
2. Now you are going to create a Venn diagram comparing and
contrasting the two men.
3. TTW asks, Who has used a Venn diagram before? What goes
on the sides and what goes in the middle?
4. TTW hand out Venn diagram.
5. TTW tell the students that they can use bullets, but must have at
least 3 bullets for each section.
Summative/ Formal Assessment
Assessment
1. Performance Based Assessment:
The students will use the Venn Diagram to write a paragraph to
Compare and Contrast the lives, the roles and accomplishments of
Thomas Jefferson and Charles Pinckney in the development of
the U.S. as a nation.
Your Venn Diagram was like brainstorming. How can you use
the information in the Venn diagram? (write a paragraph)
You will be writing a paragraph about the similarities and
differences between the two men.
You must have at least 5 complete sentences in your paragraph.
(rubric attached)
2. Objective Test:
The test will be 10 true or false questions about Jefferson and
Pinckney and their roles and accomplishments. The questions are
taken from the PowerPoint of Jefferson and the reading guide on
Pinckney (test attached).
Charles Pinckney
The settlement of Charlestown
had nearly reached its hundredth
birthday when Charles Pinckney was
born on October 26, 1757. As the
son of a well-known colonist, it is
not surprising that Charles would
also serve his state and country. At
the age of 21, he was a representative
in the South Carolina General
Assembly.
Shortly after, he and his father fought in the American Revolution and
were captured by the British in 1780. Charles’ father agreed to swear
allegiance to the British crown of King Charles to gain his freedom and keep
his lands, including Snee Farm Plantation. But Charles was a true patriot
and would not renounce his pledge to gain independence for the colonies.
He remained in prison until 1781.
Do you know when the colonies finally gained their independence
from Great Britain? It was 1783 and a grand site it must have been to see
George Washington and his troops ride through the British line after the
British surrendered in Yorktown.
Four years later, Pinckney was sent to Philadelphia to represent South
Carolina as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. Though he was the
2nd youngest of the delegates, he submitted a detailed plan of government,
called the Pinckney Draft. Many of his ideas were included in the new
Constitution that insures freedom to all forever! When he returned to South
Carolina, he urged the representatives and other leaders to ratify the new
federal constitution. Then he got to work to help write a new constitution for
the state of South Carolina. One thing he added was a guarantee of religious
freedom.
Charles Pinckney served as governor of South Carolina for four terms:
1789 to 1791, 1791 to 1792, 1796 to 1798, and again from 1806 to 1808. He
believed strongly in the words he helped write and, though he was wealthy,
he changed his political views to help the common man. The common man
would be the settler who made his own life from the opportunity to own land
and livestock.
Pinckney supported Thomas Jefferson for President in 1800. After
Jefferson’s victory, he was appointed ambassador to Spain. He also helped
with the purchase of the Louisiana Territory from France and continued to
serve the people of his state and his country. For him, duty to his nation was
a sacred trust and would come with a great personal sacrifice. His
dedication to this new country cost him all of his money. Pinckney died on
October 29, 1824 and is buried at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in
Charleston
Pinckney's grave at St. Philip's in Charleston
In 1821, when Pinckney's health beginning to fail, he retired for the last time
from politics. He died in 1824, just 3 days after his 67th birthday. He was
laid to rest at St. Philip's Episcopal Churchyard in Charleston.
THOMAS JEFFERSON
Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743 at the
family home in, Virginia. His father was a planter and
surveyor. Besides practicing law, Jefferson was a
representative in the Virginia House of Burgesses.
When Jefferosn’s father died, he
inherited his land from him. He
designed and built his home which
was called Monticello.
In 1779, Jefferson was elected Governor of Virginia. The term was
then for one year, and he was re-elected in 1780. As governor in 1780, he
transferred the state capital from Williamsburg to Richmond
Jefferson served as a delegate to the Second Continental Congress
beginning in June 1775. Jefferson and John Adams established a friendship
that would last the rest of their lives. Adams made sure that Jefferson was
appointed to the five man committee to draft a resolution of independence.
The committee chose Jefferson, who was reluctant to take the assignment to
write the document. A final draft was presented to the Congress on June 28,
1776. The title of the document was A Declaration by the Representatives of
the United States of America, in General Congress assembled.
As the Democratic-Republican (then called Republican) presidential
candidate in 1796, Jefferson lost to John Adams, but had enough electoral
votes to become Vice President (1797–1801). Jefferson rallied his party
and ran for the Presidency in 1800. Jefferson and Burr received the most
electoral votes, but because neither had a majority, the election was decided
in the House of Representatives. Though the Federalists wanted neither
Jefferson nor Burr to be president, Hamilton convinced his party that
Jefferson would be a lesser political evil than Burr.
In 1803 in Thomas Jefferson authorized the Louisiana Purchase, a
major land acquisition from France that doubled the size of the United
States. 1804 Jefferson appointed Meriwether Lewis and William Clark as
leaders of the expedition which explored the Louisiana Territory.
Thomas Jefferson loved books and collected them all of his life. By
1815, Jefferson's library included 6,487 books, which he sold to the Library
of Congress for $23,950 to replace the smaller collection destroyed in the
War of 1812.
On July 4, 1826, at ten minutes before one o'clock Jefferson died at
the age of 83,on the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence
and a few hours before John Adams.
Adam’s last words were,
Independence forever and Thomas Jefferson survives.
He is buried at Monticello.
Jefferson
Pinckney
Jefferson



Pinckney
President of the United
States

Governors

Founding Father
Wrote and signed

Attended
Declaration of
Continental
Independence
Congress
Founded Dem/Rep

American

3rd President of US
Revolution

Louisiana Purchase

Lewis/Clark Expedition
building new

Separation Church and
nation
State


Leaders in
Both served their
state and country
Revolutionary War

Dem-Rep Party

Opposed slavery

State’s Rights
Wrote a large part of
constitution

Signed the
Constitution

Member of Federalist
party but changed to
Took part in
party


Dem-Rep party

Minister to Spain

Governor 4 times

Senator

United States House of
Representatives
Student Performance-Based Assessment:
1. Write a paragraph comparing and contrasting the life, the roles and
accomplishments of Thomas Jefferson and Charles Pinckney in the development
of the U.S. as a nation.
Answer Key:
Possible information included in paragraph:












Democratic/Republican Party vs. Federalist Party
Jefferson was President of the United States
Pinckney served in the Senate and the House of Representative of the United
States
Pinckney campaigned and worked under Jefferson when he was President
Pinckney helped write the Constitution
Jefferson wrote Declaration of Independence
Both worked on the Louisiana Purchase
Pinckney served as governor in South Carolina, Jefferson in Virginia.
Both were delegates from their state at Constitutional Convention that founded
the United States.
Both men were lawyers
Both played influential roles in developing our government and basis of the
nation’s principles
Charles Pinckney fought in the American Revolution
Student Rubric for Jefferson and Pinckney Writing Prompt:
Criteria
Students
demonstrate
knowledge about
the lives of Charles
Pinckney and
Thomas Jefferson.
Students
demonstrate their
understanding of
the political beliefs
of Charles
Pinckney and
Thomas Jefferson
3 points
Students include
at least 3 facts
about Pinckney
and 3 facts about
Jefferson.
2 points
Student
includes at
least 2 facts
about the
leaders’ lives.
1 point
Student
includes only 1
fact about the
leaders’ lives.
0 points
Student could not
include any facts
Students
include at
least 2 ideas
where
Jefferson and
Pinckney
views were
the same and
1 difference.
Student includes
Student
Student
at least 4 roles
includes at
understands the
accomplishments of each leader played least 2 roles
in the formation
each leader
both Pinckney and
played in the
Jefferson in relation of the United
to the development States. Thoughts formation of
are in detail and
the United
of the U.S. nation
clear.
States.
Information is
incomplete.
Students
include at
least 1 idea
where
Jefferson and
Pinckney
views were the
same and 1
difference. .
Student cannot
identify 1
accomplishme
nt of the two
leaders.
Students did not
come up with any
correct ideas for
Pinckney or
Jefferson.
Students include
at least 3 ideas
where Jefferson
and Pinckney
views were the
same and 1
difference.
Students could
not identify any
accomplishments
of either leader.
Name_____________________
Thomas Jefferson & Charles Pinckney Test
Circle your answer: True or False
1.
Charles Pinckney worked with Thomas Jefferson.
T
F
2. Charles Pinckney was Ambassador to Spain.
T
F
3. Thomas Jefferson was the main author of the Declaration of Independence.
T
F
4. Thomas Jefferson was very interested in expanding the U.S. in the North only.
T
F
5. Charles Pinckney served as the Governor of Georgia.
T
F
6. Thomas Jefferson was a founder of the Communist Party.
T
F
7. Charles Pinckney wrote the Pinckney Plan, which was the basis for the final
Constitution. T F
8. Thomas Jefferson served as the governor of Virginia.
T
F
9. Charles Pinckney was a strong supporter of religious freedom. T F
10. Thomas Jefferson was the 1st President of the United States of America.
T
F
Thomas Jefferson & Charles Pinckney
Test Answer Key
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
T
T
T
F
F
6. F
7. T
8. F
9. T
10. F