Changes

==Career==

==Career==

In 1775, he joined the American army that was besieging Boston. Appointed a captain, he served on [[Benedict Arnold]]'s staff during the Quebec campaign of 1775-1776.<ref>Arnold at the time was loyal to the Patriot side.</ref> In 1776 Burr served briefly on Washington's staff with the rank of major. He saw combat during the Battle of Long Island and, in July 1777, was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel in the Continental Army and given the command of a regiment. Following the campaign of 1778, which culminated in the Battle of Monmouth, and a winter conducting patrol activity, he resigned his commission because of ill health.

In 1775, he joined the American army that was besieging Boston. Appointed a captain, he served on [[Benedict Arnold]]'s staff during the Quebec campaign of 1775–1776.<ref>Arnold at the time was loyal to the Patriot side.</ref> In 1776 Burr served briefly on Washington's staff with the rank of major. He saw combat during the Battle of Long Island and, in July 1777, was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel in the Continental Army and given the command of a regiment. Following the campaign of 1778, which culminated in the Battle of Monmouth, and a winter conducting patrol activity, he resigned his commission because of ill health.

Burr was admitted to the bar in New York in 1782. As a practicing attorney he vied with arch-rival [[Alexander Hamilton]] for the status as the city's most prominent lawyer. His income was large, but he was a poor manager of it and repeatedly attempted various speculative schemes to cover his debts.

Burr was admitted to the bar in New York in 1782. As a practicing attorney he vied with arch-rival [[Alexander Hamilton]] for the status as the city's most prominent lawyer. His income was large, but he was a poor manager of it and repeatedly attempted various speculative schemes to cover his debts.

Burr became the leader of the [[Republicans (Jeffersonian)|Republicans]] of New York, and built a formidable political machine in opposition to the [[Federalist Party]] that Hamilton ran. The party nominated him as [[vice president]] in 1796 and 1800. A master of the nuts and bolts of the political game, his brilliantly managed campaign in New York City during [[United States presidential election, 1800|the presidential election of 1800]] proved decisive in defeating the reelection bid of President [[John Adams]].

Burr became the leader of the [[Republicans (Jeffersonian)|Republicans]] of New York, and built a formidable political machine in opposition to the [[Federalist Party]] that Hamilton ran. The party nominated him as [[vice president]] in 1796 and 1800. A master of the nuts and bolts of the political game, his brilliantly managed campaign in New York City during [[United States presidential election, 1800|the presidential election of 1800]] proved decisive in defeating the reelection bid of President [[John Adams]].

Since this was before the [[Twelfth Amendment]], Burr was technically running for president as well. The normal practice was for one elector to vote for Jefferson but not Burr, which would have caused Burr to come in second and be vice-president; however, no elector did so in 1800, so Burr and Jefferson tied. According to the [[Full Text of the United States Constitution#Article. II.|Constitution]], the [[lame duck]] Federalist House would break the tie. Jefferson pressed Burr to promise not to serve; however, he did not do so. Burr himself never explained why. It may have been in part due to the Constitution not clearly saying whether he would become vice president or have to drop out of the race completely (meaning third-placed [[John Adams]] would have become vice president instead), or it may have been because the Constitution did not specify what would happen if the Federalist-controlled House failed to break the tie before Inauguration Day,<ref>Indeed, one Congressman proposed a bill specifying that a Federalist-controlled committee could then elect whatever candidate they wanted as president. (''America Afire: Jefferson, Adams, and the Revolutionary Election of 1800.'' Bernard A. Weisberger.)</ref> or Burr may have wanted to snatch the presidency away from Jefferson.  Nonetheless, even when someone told Burr that some Congressmen would vote for him if he arrived at Washington in person, he did not do so. Eventually, [[Alexander Hamilton]]'s opposition to Burr and minor concessions from Jefferson moved a majority of the House to vote for Jefferson. Jefferson became President, and Burr served as the [[vice president]] of [[Thomas Jefferson]] from 1801 to 1805.  

Since this was before the [[Twelfth Amendment]], Burr was technically running for president as well. The normal practice was for one elector to vote for Jefferson but not Burr, which would have caused Burr to come in second and be vice-president; however, no elector did so in 1800, so Burr and Jefferson tied. According to the [[Full Text of the United States Constitution#Article. II.|Constitution]], the [[lame duck]] Federalist House would break the tie. Jefferson pressed Burr to promise not to serve; however, he did not do so. Burr himself never explained why. It may have been in part due to the Constitution not clearly saying whether he would become vice president or have to drop out of the race completely (meaning third-placed [[John Adams]] would have become vice president instead), or it may have been because the Constitution did not specify what would happen if the Federalist-controlled House failed to break the tie before Inauguration Day,<ref>Indeed, one Congressman proposed a bill specifying that a Federalist-controlled committee could then elect whatever candidate they wanted as president. (''America Afire: Jefferson, Adams, and the Revolutionary Election of 1800.'' Bernard A. Weisberger.)</ref> or Burr may have wanted to snatch the presidency away from Jefferson.  Nonetheless, even when someone told Burr that some Congressmen would vote for him if he arrived at Washington in person, he did not do so. Eventually, [[Alexander Hamilton]]'s opposition to Burr and minor concessions from Jefferson moved a majority of the House to vote for Jefferson. Jefferson became president, and Burr served as the [[vice president]] of [[Thomas Jefferson]] from 1801 to 1805.  

Jefferson was now Burr's enemy. Republicans now deeply distrusted Burr, convinced that he had tried to cut a deal with Federalists to place himself in the presidency at the expense of Jefferson and against the very strong will of the party. His law business had also fallen off and his enemies had ousted him from the board of a major bank, so return to private practice was not an attractive alternative. By 1803, Burr was desperate to restore his political standing. The national party caucus re-nominated Jefferson for president in 1804, but unanimously dropped Burr. Despite the collapse of his political support Burr decided to run for governor of New York in 1804. He lost, with 30,829 votes for his opponent Morgan Lewis and only 22,139 for Burr—by far the largest majority in state history and a complete humiliation for Burr.

Jefferson was now Burr's enemy. Republicans now deeply distrusted Burr, convinced that he had tried to cut a deal with Federalists to place himself in the presidency at the expense of Jefferson and against the very strong will of the party. His law business had also fallen off and his enemies had ousted him from the board of a major bank, so return to private practice was not an attractive alternative. By 1803, Burr was desperate to restore his political standing. The national party caucus re-nominated Jefferson for president in 1804, but unanimously dropped Burr. Despite the collapse of his political support Burr decided to run for governor of New York in 1804. He lost, with 30,829 votes for his opponent Morgan Lewis and only 22,139 for Burr—by far the largest majority in state history and a complete humiliation for Burr.

Dueling had been outlawed in the states of New York and New Jersey, but Hamilton and Burr were not citizens of New Jersey, so on July 11, 1804, the enemies met outside of Weehawken, New Jersey, with pistols at ten paces. Burr shot and killed Hamilton.<ref>Hamilton either did not shoot at all, or shot to miss Burr deliberately, by aiming over his head.  Hamilton believed that a Christian gentlemen should fire over his target so that honor is served, but no one is hurt. He taught this to his son, who had died in a duel not long before when his opponent did not feel the same. Burr had already engaged in two duels in which no one was seriously hurt.</ref>   

Dueling had been outlawed in the states of New York and New Jersey, but Hamilton and Burr were not citizens of New Jersey, so on July 11, 1804, the enemies met outside of Weehawken, New Jersey, with pistols at ten paces. Burr shot and killed Hamilton.<ref>Hamilton either did not shoot at all, or shot to miss Burr deliberately, by aiming over his head.  Hamilton believed that a Christian gentlemen should fire over his target so that honor is served, but no one is hurt. He taught this to his son, who had died in a duel not long before when his opponent did not feel the same. Burr had already engaged in two duels in which no one was seriously hurt.</ref>   

Burr was later charged with multiple crimes, including murder, in New York and New Jersey, but was never tried in either jurisdiction. He fled to South Carolina, where his daughter lived with her family, but soon returned to Washington to complete his term as Vice President.

Burr was later charged with multiple crimes, including murder, in New York and New Jersey, but was never tried in either jurisdiction. He fled to South Carolina, where his daughter lived with her family, but soon returned to Washington to complete his term as vice president.

As presiding officer of the [[United States Senate|Senate]], he presided over the impeachment trial of [[Samuel Chase]]. One Senator commented that Burr had conducted the proceedings with the "impartiality of an angel and the rigor of a devil." Burr's heartfelt farewell in March 1805 moved some of his harshest critics in the Senate to tears.

As presiding officer of the [[United States Senate|Senate]], he presided over the impeachment trial of [[Samuel Chase]]. One Senator commented that Burr had conducted the proceedings with the "impartiality of an angel and the rigor of a devil." Burr's heartfelt farewell in March 1805 moved some of his harshest critics in the Senate to tears.

Burr's private letters differs markedly from that of other leaders of the American Revolution and reflect Burr's different worldview. Unlike fellow Revolutionary statesmen who endorsed [[republicanism]] and celebrated virtue and enlightened values as their claim to natural aristocracy, Burr esteemed traditional aristocratic values and believed it only proper to use his public office to maintain his position in society and to make money. His correspondence is secretive, and deals primarily with schemes to promote his friends and his business interests. He never wrote about constitutionalism or government policy like his contemporaries. After the Revolution, rival politicians such as Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson united against Burr because his behavior threatened republican ideals and made him a traitor to the new American elite.<ref>Gordon S. Wood, "The Real Treason of Aaron Burr". ''Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society'' 1999 143(2): 280-295. 0003-049X</ref>

Burr's private letters differs markedly from that of other leaders of the American Revolution and reflect Burr's different worldview. Unlike fellow Revolutionary statesmen who endorsed [[republicanism]] and celebrated virtue and enlightened values as their claim to natural aristocracy, Burr esteemed traditional aristocratic values and believed it only proper to use his public office to maintain his position in society and to make money. His correspondence is secretive, and deals primarily with schemes to promote his friends and his business interests. He never wrote about constitutionalism or government policy like his contemporaries. After the Revolution, rival politicians such as Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson united against Burr because his behavior threatened republican ideals and made him a traitor to the new American elite.<ref>Gordon S. Wood, "The Real Treason of Aaron Burr". ''Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society'' 1999 143(2): 280-295. 0003-049X</ref>

   

   

NOTE: There are no records of Burr "...threatening republican ideals.." To the contrary, according to most contemporary accounts Burr's behavior in his several elected and appointed offices were honorable.  Even his political rivals begrudged him that.  As to "republican ideals," as a U.S. Senator Burr moved for an amendment for complete abolition of slavery. He condemned an amendment in the N.Y. legislature that would bar recent immigrants from joining craft unions-a dangerous move for him in New York at the time. His record as NY Attorney General was progressive and untainted by corruption. And he committed allegiance to the Jeffersonian Republicans when he ran for Vice-President. Read the reports of his behavior as President Pro-Tem of the U.S. Senate. According to some of Burr's writing he enjoyed politics, but his family, friends and career (he ws always in debt) came first. The period mentioned above was long before the Conspiracy chapter of his life. Politics alone, if you read contemporary accounts by Jefferson and Hamilton, were the bases of their animosity.  Both Jefferson and Hamilton published attacks on Burr under pseudonyms, both in letters and newspapers.  He never attacked them in this manner.  He was writing a history of the Revolution, but it was lost at sea with his daughter.  

NOTE: There are no records of Burr "...threatening republican ideals.." To the contrary, according to most contemporary accounts Burr's behavior in his several elected and appointed offices were honorable.  Even his political rivals begrudged him that.  As to "republican ideals," as a U.S. Senator Burr moved for an amendment for complete abolition of slavery. He condemned an amendment in the N.Y. legislature that would bar recent immigrants from joining craft unions-a dangerous move for him in New York at the time. His record as NY Attorney General was progressive and untainted by corruption. And he committed allegiance to the Jeffersonian Republicans when he ran for vice-president. Read the reports of his behavior as President Pro-Tem of the U.S. Senate. According to some of Burr's writing he enjoyed politics, but his family, friends and career (he ws always in debt) came first. The period mentioned above was long before the Conspiracy chapter of his life. Politics alone, if you read contemporary accounts by Jefferson and Hamilton, were the bases of their animosity.  Both Jefferson and Hamilton published attacks on Burr under pseudonyms, both in letters and newspapers.  He never attacked them in this manner.  He was writing a history of the Revolution, but it was lost at sea with his daughter.  

Undoubtly there are many unanswered questions about the conspiracy, but recently uncovered records have caused many historians to take a newer, unprejudiced investigation of all the claims. No doubt the filibustering might have taken place eventually, but it didn't.  Time was against Burr.  When, in 1836, the U.S. took Texas from Mexico, Burr stated, "thirty years ago I was called a traitor - today I would be a hero." Dav123 21 May 2010

Undoubtly there are many unanswered questions about the conspiracy, but recently uncovered records have caused many historians to take a newer, unprejudiced investigation of all the claims. No doubt the filibustering might have taken place eventually, but it didn't.  Time was against Burr.  When, in 1836, the U.S. took Texas from Mexico, Burr stated, "thirty years ago I was called a traitor - today I would be a hero." Dav123 21 May 2010

==Bibliography==

==Bibliography==

* Freeman, Joanne B. "Dueling as Politics: Reinterpreting the Burr-Hamilton Duel," ''William and Mary Quarterly'' 1996 53(2): 289-318. [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2947402  in Jstor]  

* Freeman, Joanne B. "Dueling as Politics: Reinterpreting the Burr-Hamilton Duel," ''William and Mary Quarterly'' 1996 53(2): 289–318. [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2947402  in Jstor]  

* Hoffer, Peter Charles. ''The Treason Trials of Aaron Burr.'' (2008). 224 pages.  

* Hoffer, Peter Charles. ''The Treason Trials of Aaron Burr.'' (2008). 224 pages.  

* Isenberg, Nancy. ''Fallen Founder: The Life of Aaron Burr.'' (2007) 560pp The best scholarly biography; favorable to Burr

* Isenberg, Nancy. ''Fallen Founder: The Life of Aaron Burr.'' (2007) 560pp The best scholarly biography; favorable to Burr

* Parmet, Herbert S. and Marie B. Hecht. ''Aaron Burr: Portrait of an Ambitious Man'' (1967) 399pp [http://www.questia-online-library.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=89000748 online edition]

* Parmet, Herbert S. and Marie B. Hecht. ''Aaron Burr: Portrait of an Ambitious Man'' (1967) 399pp [http://www.questia-online-library.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=89000748 online edition]

* Rorabaugh, W. J. "The Political Duel in the Early Republic: Burr v. Hamilton." ''Journal of the Early Republic'' 1995 15(1): 1-23. 0275-1275  

* Rorabaugh, W. J. "The Political Duel in the Early Republic: Burr v. Hamilton." ''Journal of the Early Republic'' 1995 15(1): 1-23. 0275-1275  

* Stagg, J. C. A. "The Enigma of Aaron Burr." ''Reviews In American History'' 1984 12(3): 378-382. 0048-7511  

* Stagg, J. C. A. "The Enigma of Aaron Burr." ''Reviews In American History'' 1984 12(3): 378–382. 0048-7511  

===Primary sources===

===Primary sources===

* Burr, Aaron. ''Political Correspondence and Public Papers of Aaron Burr.'' ed. by Mary-Jo Kline, 2 vol. (1983). 1311 pp.

* Burr, Aaron. ''Political Correspondence and Public Papers of Aaron Burr.'' ed. by Mary-Jo Kline, 2 vol. (1983). 1311 pp.