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In the 1800 election, Burr received the same number of electoral votes as did Jefferson, and refused to concede the presidential race to Jefferson, thus forcing the election into the [[House of Representatives]]. While Burr's refusal to concede 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), Burr's own lust for power and glory has generally been regarded by historians as the reason why he tried to snatch the presidency away from Jefferson. It was due to [[Alexander Hamilton]]'s opposition that Jefferson became president and Burr vice-president. Burr served as the [[vice president]] of [[Thomas Jefferson]] from 1801 to 1805.
In the 1800 election, Burr received the same number of electoral votes as did Jefferson, and refused to concede the presidential race to Jefferson, thus forcing the election into the [[House of Representatives]]. While Burr's refusal to concede 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), Burr's own lust for power and glory has generally been regarded by historians as the reason why he tried to snatch the presidency away from Jefferson. It was due to [[Alexander Hamilton]]'s opposition that Jefferson became president and Burr vice-president. Burr served as the [[vice president]] of [[Thomas Jefferson]] from 1801 to 1805.
Jeffersonian 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. Jefferson was his enemy now. His law business had also fallen off and his enemies had ousted him from a 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 renominated 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.
==Duel with Hamilton==
==Duel with Hamilton==
American politics was verbally violent in the 1790s, but apparently had cooled off somewhat by 1804, when Burr ran for governor. Hamilton, convinced he was a villain and an enemy of American [[Republicanism]] made veiled allegations that suggested sexual immorality on Burr's part. Burr lost the election and blamed Hamilton for sullying his honor; Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel.
American politics was verbally violent in the 1790s, but apparently had cooled off somewhat by 1804, when Burr ran for governor. Hamilton, convinced he was a villain and an enemy of American [[Republicanism]] made his opinion known. One political leader stated in the press:
:The newspapers reported, "Gen. Hamilton and Judge Kent have declared in substance, that they looked upon Mr. Burr to be a dangerous man, and one who ought not to be trusted with the reins of government. . . . I could detail to you a still more despicable opinion which General Hamilton has expressed of Mr. Burr."
The line ''a still more despicable opinion'' was cause for the duel. Burr demanded an "explanation" from Hamilton, who refused; Burr demanded that Hamilton admit or deny, "Whether you have authorized their application either directly or by uttering expressions or opinions derogatory to my honor." Hamilton refused to answer and Burr challenged him to a duel.
Political duels in the early republic were part of the political game--[[Andrew Jackson]] killed men in duels and [[Abraham Lincoln]] barely escaped fighting one. After bitter elections, losing politicians sometimes provoked duels with the victors to redeem their failing status; that is, political duelists staged aristocratic contests of honor to refute the outcome of democratic contests of reputation. These duels followed a distinctive and detailed logic that likewise governed the Burr-Hamilton duel.<ref> Freeman (1996)</ref>
Political duels in the early republic were part of the political game--[[Andrew Jackson]] killed men in duels and [[Abraham Lincoln]] barely escaped fighting one. After bitter elections, losing politicians sometimes provoked duels with the victors to redeem their failing status; that is, political duelists staged aristocratic contests of honor to refute the outcome of democratic contests of reputation. These duels followed a distinctive and detailed logic that likewise governed the Burr-Hamilton duel.<ref> Freeman (1996)</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, and Hamilton was fatally shot. There has been some controversy as to the claims of Burr's and Hamilton's seconds; while one party indicated Hamilton never fired, the other claims a 3 to 4 second interval between the first shot and the second shot.<ref>http://www.thedailystar.com/opinion/columns/2004/07/10/ham.html</ref> Hamilton's shot missed Burr, going over his head. Hamilton's belief was that a Christian gentlemen fires 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 didn't feel the same way either. His shot was fatal. 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.
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. Hamilton missed his shot; Burr did not, and Hamilton died.<ref> Hamilton's shot went over Burr's head. Hamilton's belief was that a Christian gentlemen fires 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 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.
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.
* 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
* Kennedy, Roger G. ''Burr, Hamilton, and Jefferson: A Study in Character.'' (2000). 476 pp., character study; pro-Burr
* Kennedy, Roger G. ''Burr, Hamilton, and Jefferson: A Study in Character.'' (2000). 476 pp., character study; pro-Burr [http://www.questia.com/read/59887100?title=Burr%2c%20Hamilton%2c%20and%20Jefferson%3a%20%20A%20Study%20in%20Character online edition]
* Lomask, Milton. ''Burr'' (2 vol 1979)
* Lomask, Milton. ''Burr'' (2 vol 1979)
* Melton, Buckner F., Jr. ''Aaron Burr: Conspiracy to Treason.'' (2002). 278 pp. [http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&docId=106265741 online edition], anti-Burr
* Melton, Buckner F., Jr. ''Aaron Burr: Conspiracy to Treason.'' (2002). 278 pp. [http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&docId=106265741 online edition], anti-Burr
* Parmet, Herbert S. and Marie B. Hecht. ''Aaron Burr: Portrait of an Ambitious Man'' (1967) [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