Scribner Seminar Program
Course Description

Hip Hop, Hamilton and History

Instructor(s): Catherine Hill, Management and Business

What would Alexander Hamilton say about education at Skidmore College? What would the Schuyler sisters think about dating today? What influence did Hamilton have on our monetary system? What influenced Lin Manuel Miranda to write a hip hop musical about the first Secretary of the Treasury? What role does dueling play in Hamilton’s life and in the musical?

This course will explore elements of a liberal arts education through the lens of Alexander Hamilton and Hamilton the Musical. We will consider Hamilton’s role in history, his impact on the Constitution and the banking system, the scandals that followed him, and the impact of ego and dueling on his life. We will also listen to the soundtrack of Hamilton, and consider issues like immigration, race, and philosophy. We will learn the difference between primary and secondary sources and explore the role of language in Hamilton’s life and in the musical.