The Duel On July 11, 1804 Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr both made trips up the Hudson River to the Weehawken fields. The Burr party arrived first and the Hamilton party had arrived second. The two teams had to discuss the “einterview.†Duels were called interviews because they were illegal in most states including New York. Veteran duelists developed the code duello so if any duel was to be brought up in court both parties would claim ignorance. Since Hamilton was the one challenged he got to pick the weapon. He picked a pair of pistols owned by his brother-in-law. Both of them picked their spots and were ready.
Two shots had been fired and Hamilton was hit on his right side, the bullet ricocheted off his ribs up through the liver and lodged in the second lumbar vertebra. Burr was shocked that he had shot Hamilton. He only fired his weapon after Hamilton had fired at him; or at least he thought he fired at him. Burr probably did not intend on killing Hamilton, choosing to aim at his hips was common in a duel when someone wanted to wound his opponent. Hamilton died the next day at two oâ€TMclock in the morning. Many newspapers had anti- Burr articles. Burr fled town in disgrace and did not stop until he reached Georgia. What had happened that enraged Burr so much to challenge Hamilton? There was a duel of words that proceeded the day in the field.
One day in June Burr brought up a letter Hamilton wrote to an author about him being despicable and doubted his qualifications to run for the governor of New York. Burr had said that he always restrained himself when he was criticized but “for several years Hamiltonâ€TMs name has been lent to the support of Slanders.†Burr confronted Hamilton about his consistent use of foul language. For this, Hamilton had resumed his back-stabbing campaign for Burr. Hamilton did all he could to show people what a political chameleon that Burr was and he was waiting to see what side offered him the better deal before deciding what side to take. Burr challenged Hamilton to the duel as a matter of last resort. Hamilton felt trapped into the duel because Burr would be able to continue his plan to succeed the New England states from the Union making their own separate Federalist State.
Even though Hamilton was a federalist he could not let this happen. The real reason Hamilton was able to accept was his sense of honor and duty. It was not simply his personal honor that he wanted to protect, but more importantly it was the honor of a young republic which he had worked so hard to help forge, that needed his protection. The implications for the young nation of the duel led to the rise of Alexander Hamilton status to martyrdom and further preserved his place in history, ensuring that his economic policies would live on. As for Aaron Burr, he was regulated to obscurity and the end of his political career. Instead of being in line for the presidency, where he could have implemented his secessionist policies and other radical ideas, he became the only sitting Vice-President to be tried for treason. Alexander Hamilton may have died literally on that fateful day, but surely Aaron Burr and his career figuratively.
