History Crime Scene Investigation: CSI Hamilton Duel At Dawn

Hamilton was so much more than just an amazing play on Broadway.

Want a great way for students to engage in a group activity while they examine eyewitness testimony, artifacts, primary sources, and solve a historical mystery? Download The Hamilton Duel at Dawn CSI!

This exciting activity can be used to challenge individual students or to encourage collaboration in groups of up to five people. Students form CSI teams and examine real evidence from the duel between Vice President Aaron Burr and the former Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton. They will determine what happened and decide whether Hamilton and Burr were justified in settling their differences with a duel, or whether the sitting Vice President should have been charged over Hamilton's death. This CSI focuses on getting the students to piece together the events of the morning of July 11, 1804 and make solid connections to the evidence. It's a great way to encourage students to support historical arguments with relevant sources. It is also a great first step in teaching students how to write well thought out answers to document based questions and essays.

This set includes everything you need to run a 1 - 2 class period CSI investigation. It contains the following:

- A CSI Crime Report with instructions that students complete as a group.

- A Final Report with in depth questions and analysis.

- Evidence exhibits straight from primary sources (eyewitness testimony straight from witnesses to the duel, a medical autopsy report of Hamilton's body, pictures of the actual physical evidence including the dueling pistols, and detailed letters between Hamilton and Burr which eventually led to the duel itself).



This activity supports higher level thinking and encourages students to view history as a fun investigation, all while being respectful to the memories of those involved in this tragic moment in American History.