The duel on the morning of July 11, 1804 between Alexander Hamilton, an honorary, willful, and popular individual in the Federalist party, and his polar opposite, Aaron Burr, the natural aristocrat and second in command of the United States, introduces itself as one of the most captivating and mysterious manifestations in American history. Coming from two completely different backgrounds, Burr and Hamilton allegedly 1met at Weehawken, to settle their disputes in an honorable, yet illegal way. The shots fired resulted in a fatally wounded Hamilton, due to the ricocheting of Burr’s bullet on his ribs and its final stop in Hamilton’s spine. He died the next day surrounded by his family. Burr was not wounded, for Hamilton’s shot went astray and
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This strongly correlates to the original principles within early American political culture that contributed to both the emblematic aura of the Hamilton-Burr confrontation that arose personal insecurities. Specifically, the Hamilton-Burr confrontation signified the fear and apprehension of the potential breakdown of the new, fledging American government that the founding fathers had. Furthermore, the Hamilton-Burr confrontation was based on political or ideological disagreements just as the Founding Fathers. For instance, the text states, “Political or ideological disagreements, no matter how deep, lay outside the field of honor on which a gentleman could demand satisfaction. Hamilton’s distinction between personal and political criticism was designed to change the dispute with Burr from an affair of honor to a political difference of opinion.” (Ellis, 34) It is evident that Hamilton’s intentions for the battle were not solely based on maintaining his honor. Politics had a key role, where Hamilton was willing to challenge Burr to defend his political ideals. While Hamilton and Burr had known each other “from their youthful days as officers in the Continental Army” (Ellis, 40), both were failed to come to a compromise within the situation, thus
This strongly correlates to the original principles within early American political culture that contributed to both the emblematic aura of the Hamilton-Burr confrontation that arose personal insecurities. Specifically, the Hamilton-Burr confrontation signified the fear and apprehension of the potential breakdown of the new, fledging American government that the founding fathers had. Furthermore, the Hamilton-Burr confrontation was based on political or ideological disagreements just as the Founding Fathers. For instance, the text states, “Political or ideological disagreements, no matter how deep, lay outside the field of honor on which a gentleman could demand satisfaction. Hamilton’s distinction between personal and political criticism was designed to change the dispute with Burr from an affair of honor to a political difference of opinion.” (Ellis, 34) It is evident that Hamilton’s intentions for the battle were not solely based on maintaining his honor. Politics had a key role, where Hamilton was willing to challenge Burr to defend his political ideals. While Hamilton and Burr had known each other “from their youthful days as officers in the Continental Army” (Ellis, 40), both were failed to come to a compromise within the situation, thus