The Relationship between Alexander Hamilton & Aaron Burr
Summary:
The differences between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr led, not only to philosophical and political strife, but to animosity that ended in a fatal duel.
The main reason Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr became deadly enemies was their immense differences. They had different backgrounds, ambitions, goals, beliefs, and political methods. All of these differences combined with some similarities contributed to the extreme hatred between the two men. In their minds, the conflict became irresolvable, and the only way to settle the dispute and regain their reputations was through a duel.
Hamilton and Burr came from extremely different backgrounds. Hamilton was born on the small Caribbean Island, Nebis, to a French woman and a trader from Scotland. Both of his parents had questionable reputations, and his father abandoned the family when Hamilton was ten. His mother died when he was fourteen, and from a young age Hamilton had a dark view of human nature and the world. Burr, however, was born in America to a prestigious family. His father was the president of Princeton University, and the family lived a life of luxury. Burr often rebelled against his strict Puritan upbringing.
They were both very ambitious men who would stop at nothing to get what they wanted. Alexander was extremely smart, which made him restless. In 1773 he went to college in America and was very interested in school and books. Aaron attended Princeton University and was interested in women and taverns. After college both men served in the Revolutionary war. Hamilton was well-liked by George Washington, and he became a top aid for him. Burr was a hero at the Battle of Quebec. After the war, both men became skillful lawyers.
The two men had very different political views and aspirations. Hamilton hated the Continental Congress and wanted a strong central government and a capitalistic society. He had a negative view of human nature and believed the country needed many reforms. He believed in integrity and morals and faced every issue. Hamilton was not afraid of controversy. His main goal was to make his vision of America a reality. Burr's main goal was to be rich and powerful. He used his charm and charisma to gain supporters. He raised a lot of money by giving favors to rich businessmen and was interested in the rights of women. He wanted his daughter to have all the rights and opportunities of men at the time. He avoided controversy and had no restraints. Hamilton often criticized Burr saying he had no morals and was unprincipled.
Hamilton became Washington's Secretary of Treasury. The hatred between the two men grew when Burr beat Hamilton's father-in-law for senator of New York. Aaron's disgust of Alexander grew with the Election of 1800 between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Burr was Thomas Jefferson's Vice Presidential Candidate. Jefferson got the Electoral College votes in New York and Virginia, while Adams got the Electoral College votes in the rest of New England. Adams and Jefferson tied, so the vote went to the House of Representatives. Somehow there was a tie between Burr and Jefferson for the Republicans, so the vote went to the Senate, and Burr refused to support Jefferson. He wanted power and needed more allies. Hamilton, a federalist, did not agree with Jefferson's political views, but he hated Burr so much that he convinced people to vote for Jefferson. Burr lost the election, largely in part because of Hamilton. Burr was devastated and began to drink a lot. Both Burr and Hamilton stayed out of politics until 1804. Burr was willing to do anything to gain power and his reputation again. He ran for governor of New York as a federalist which outraged Hamilton. Burr then ran independently and lost. His reputation was completely destroyed, and he became very depressed.
Burr believed that his reputation was ruined, partially because of Hamilton who wrote letters attacking his morals and character. When Burr heard this, he wrote to Hamilton asking for an apology. Hamilton could not bring himself to apologize, even though he knew it would eventually lead to a duel, which he did not want. Both men believed they could not turn back and a duel was inevitable. The men wrote many letters back and forth expressing their hatred for each other, which eventually led the death of Alexander Hamilton and the further downfall of Aaron Burr.
Hamilton and Burr were two extremely ambitious men who were similar in some ways but had different ideas and goals. Their political paths collided many times which became fatal. Both men believed a duel was the only option to solve the conflict between the two.
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