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HAYM SOLOMON: The Financier Who Helped Fund America's Freedom

Updated: Sep 2

Grade Level: Middle School (6th-8th grade)
Subject: History/Social Studies
Video Duration: 16 minutes

Themes: Patriotism and Sacrifice, Unsung Heroes In History, Religious and Cultural Identity in America, and Perseverance Against Adversity




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Description:

Haym Solomon was a Jewish immigrant, financier, and unsung hero of the American Revolution who played a crucial role in securing funds for the war effort. Born in Poland in 1740, he immigrated to America in 1772 and became a successful merchant and banker. A passionate supporter of the Patriot cause, Solomon used his financial expertise to help finance the Continental Army, often lending money to the government and key figures like George Washington without repayment. Despite being arrested twice by the British, he remained dedicated to the Revolution, raising crucial funds that helped turn the tide of the war. Though he died in poverty in 1785, his contributions were instrumental in securing American independence, and his legacy as a patriot and financial mastermind lives on.




LESSON PLAN:  The Financier Who Helped Fund America's Freedom 

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to

• Discuss who Haym Solomon was and describe his contributions to the American Revolution.

• Analyze how financial and logistical support were as crucial to the war effort as military action.

• Evaluate the role of lesser-known historical figures in shaping the United States.

• Develop historical analysis skills by engaging with primary and secondary sources.



Materials

• Whiteboard and markers

• Computers/tablets for research

• Projector/screen for video

• Map of Revolutionary War battles



Introduction (10-15 minutes):

  1. Warm-Up Discussion:

a. Ask Students; Who were the most important figures in the American Revolution, and why?

b. Lead a short discussion by asking students to list key Revolutionary War figures on the board. Discuss their roles.

• Ask: Do you think people who fought on the battlefield were the only ones who contributed to the war?

• Introduce Haym Solomon as a financier and an “unsung hero” of the war.

• Show an image of Haym Solomon and provide a brief biography:

• Born in Poland (1740), immigrated to America in 1772.

• Jewish immigrant and financial supporter of the American Revolution.

• Arrested twice by the British for supporting the Patriots.

• Helped finance the Continental Army, especially before the Battle of Yorktown.

• Died in poverty despite his financial contributions to the war.


  1. General Discussion: Analyzing Bias in History

a. Ask students: Why do you think some figures, like George Washington, are more well-known than others, like Haym Solomon?

b. Discuss how history is written and whose stories tend to get highlighted.



Activity: Watch the Video & Note-Taking (18 minutes)

Show Video: Haym Solomon: The Unsung Financier of the American Revolution: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc1ySByT8hg

• Write the following questions on the board.

  • How did Haym Solomon raise money for the revolution?

    • Why was his support crucial?

    • What challenges did he face?

  • Say: As you watch the video, look for the answers to these questions and take notes. We will discuss these answers after the film.


3. Class Discussion: Ask students:

  • How did Haym Solomon raise money for the revolution?

  • Why was his support crucial?

  • What challenges did he face?

4. Primary Source Analysis: Small Group Activity and Class Discussion (20 minutes)

a. Primary Source Activity

• Divide students into groups of 3 or 4: Give each group one of the Primary Sources below.

• Think-Share: After either writing these three questions on the board or projecting them on the Smart Board, ask students to read their assigned Primary Source with their group and answer the following questions:

1) What is the main idea of this document?

2) What does this document reveal about the challenges of financing the war?

3) How do these sources challenge or expand our understanding of the Revolution?


 b. Reunite the class and have each group share their answers to the questions above.


5. Wrap-Up Class Discussion: The Importance of Unsung Heroes (10 minutes)

Discussion Prompts:

  • Why is financial support so important in war?

  • What happened to Solomon after the war?

  • Why do you think Solomon’s contributions were not widely recognized?

  • How does his story challenge traditional narratives of the American Revolution?

  • Can you think of other historical figures who played crucial but less-known roles?




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