The XYZ Affair: Song and Historical Summary

This lesson can be used with a brand new recording (available for FREE on TPT) of an anti-French song entitled "New Verses to an Old Tuneâ" that was written and published in an American Newspaper in 1798. The song was written after the details of the XYZ Affair were revealed to the Congress, and then to the rest of the nation through the newspaper print culture of the early republic. This 2 page lesson includes a copy of the lyrics to the song and a 1 page historical summary with questions for the students to answer after listening to the song and reading the summary. This topic lends itself to discussions about contemporary America and our nation's reaction to foreign threats.
The lyrics are somewhat bawdy including the following verse so make sure your students are mature enough to deal with the analysis of the song.
"Yankee Doodle (mind the tune)
Yankee Doodle Dandy,
If Frenchmen come with naked bum,
We'll spank 'em hard and handy!"

Students will enjoy listening to this upbeat remake of the song with the vocals done by John Finkbiner from San Diego's indie powerhouse THE STEREOTYPES. This track is one of 9 new songs on the soon to be released Professor Presley Album, "Songs That Rocked Early America!"