Essay Sample about Aaron Burr

From 1787, the Constitutional Convention met to discuss and revise the Articles of Confederation. This group instead created a new constitution written by James Madison. This then caused a large debate between the Federalists and Democratic-Republicans (Anti-Federalists) as to whether or not this constitution should be passed. 

Aaron Burr was admitted to the bar in 1782 and was later elected as the New York Attorney General from 1789 to 1791. In 1791, Burr was elected to the United States Senate. After that, in 1792, he was offered a seat on the New York Supreme Court of Judicature which he declined. After six years as a senator, Aaron Burr returned to the New York Assembly. In the election of 1800, Aaron Burr was on the election ticket along with Thomas Jefferson. They both received the same number of electoral votes, so the House of Representatives elected Thomas Jefferson president and Aaron Burr vice president. While in office, Aaron Burr shot and killed Alexander Hamilton in their duel in Weehawken. 

Aaron Burr was a strong Anti-Federalist meaning that he feared the constitution would give too much power to the centralized government. Anti-Federalists wanted the state governments to maintain some power. They also were concerned about the monetary policies the Federalists wanted to institute which included giving more economic power to the government and rejecting ties with France in favor of ties with Britain. The Anti-Federalists wanted to maintain ties with France because of their aid in the American Revolution. 

When Aaron Burr joined the Senate in 1791, he had beaten out General Philip Schuyler (Alexander Hamilton’s father-in-law) for the seat. This marked the beginning of the rivalry between Burr and Hamilton. After six years in the Senate, Schuyler beat Aaron Burr in his run for reelection. Burr blamed Hamilton for ruining his reputation and turning the voters against him. In the election of 1800 when Aaron Burr and Thomas Jefferson tied, the House of Representatives met to determine the overall outcome. During this meeting, Alexander Hamilton vocalized support for Thomas Jefferson and disapproval of Burr. After this, Jefferson won the presidency. Aaron Burr was extremely angry and believed that Hamilton had manipulated the vote in Jefferson’s favor. Towards the end of his term as vice president, Burr ran to be the governor of New York. He lost and then blamed Hamilton. Burr wanted to defend his honor, so he challenged Hamilton to a duel. 

Hamilton accepted, and on the morning of July 11, 1804, they met in Weehawken. They both fired and Burr mortally wounded Hamilton. The public was infuriated. Burr then fled New York and New Jersey and was eventually able to complete his term in Washington D.C. Later in 1807, Burr was brought to trial for leading a military charge against Spanish territory and trying to separate territories of the U.S. Chief Justice John Marshall acquitted Burr on the treason charge and later revoked the charge of misdemeanor. However, this ruined Burr’s political career. 

Towards the end of his life, Burr suffered several strokes that left him partially paralyzed. He died on September 14, 1836 under the care of his cousin.