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==Western Conspiracy==

==Western Conspiracy==

In 1804-5 Burr began the conspiracy for which he is most widely known. In company with Army General [[James Wilkinson]], an old-time friend and the commander of U.S. forces in the Southwest and governor of the Louisiana Territory, Burr envisioned the separation of the western part of the United States, the seizure of the Spanish territory in Texas, California, and Mexico, and the uniting of these areas into a new nation with Burr as its head. The plot depended for its success on disaffected elements in the West and particularly in New Orleans where the French were thought to be discontent with the Jefferson administration. Burr sought --but failed to receive--the cooperation of Britain through her ambassador, and of Spanish officials--although he was counting upon the outbreak of war between the United States and Spain to create a situation in which his plans could operate.

In 1804-5 Burr began the conspiracy for which he is most widely known. In company with Army General [[James Wilkinson]], an old-time friend and the commander of U.S. forces in the Southwest and governor of the Louisiana Territory, Burr envisioned the separation of the western part of the United States, the seizure of the Spanish territory in Texas, California, and Mexico, and the uniting of these areas into a new nation with Burr as its head. The plot depended for its success on disaffected elements in the West and particularly in New Orleans. where the French were thought to be discontent with the Jefferson administration. Burr sought --but failed to receive--the cooperation of Britain through her ambassador, and of Spanish officials--although he was counting upon the outbreak of war between the United States and Spain to create a situation in which his plans could operate.

Burr's scheme was far too elaborate and underfunded. Burr told too many different versions of his plan to too many people; hence the plot was never fully organized and rumors spread. In August 1806, Burr set out for the Kentucky frontier where a band of 60 men had gathered to sail down the Mississippi River and stir the French Creoles to revolt, the first step in the plan. Wilkinson, in charge of the government at New Orleans, realized that the venture was hopeless. Hence, he turned on Burr in order to keep his own involvement a secret, and reported the plot to Washington. In January 1807 Burr was arrested by Wilkinson, and in May he was put on trial for treason before Chief Justice [[John Marshall]] in the U.S. Circuit Court sitting at Richmond, Virginia. Jefferson was determined to hang Burr, but he was found not guilty on the grounds that he had by no overt act levied war upon the United States.<ref>  Isenberg (2007), however, bluntly concludes that Burr never even considered a division of the union or any other form of treason. </ref>

Burr's scheme was far too elaborate and underfunded. Burr told too many different versions of his plan to too many people; hence the plot was never fully organized and rumors spread. In August 1806, Burr set out for the Kentucky frontier where a band of 60 men had gathered to sail down the Mississippi River and stir the French Creoles to revolt, the first step in the plan. Wilkinson, in charge of the government at New Orleans, realized that the venture was hopeless. Hence, he turned on Burr in order to keep his own involvement a secret, and reported the plot to Washington. In January 1807 Burr was arrested by Wilkinson, and in May he was put on trial for treason before Chief Justice [[John Marshall]] in the U.S. Circuit Court sitting at Richmond, Virginia. Jefferson was determined to hang Burr, but he was found not guilty on the grounds that he had by no overt act levied war upon the United States.<ref>  Isenberg (2007), however, bluntly concludes that Burr never even considered a division of the union or any other form of treason. </ref>