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...