Hamilton and the Golden Line Protocol

Grades9-12
50 mins
Published: August 26, 2026

In 1791, Alexander Hamilton defended the constitutionality of a national bank against objections from Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Using the Golden Line Protocol, students will discuss the concept of expressed vs implied powers, analyze Hamilton’s arguments for a national bank, and form an opinion about instituting a national banking system. 

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Created by Tim McGowan, DCTI Teacher Facilitator and 2025 DCTI Participant: Edited by James Kimbrough, 2026 Residency Fellow and 2024 DCTI Participant

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Google Docs Link

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1yjXljCW22yIdXJUTI9RJMdT8HyTem6sA?usp=drive_link