Aaron Burr had a varied career, serving in the Continental Army early in life and becoming a senator from New York in his middle life. In 1800, he tied Thomas Jefferson in the electoral college vote and became vice president. However, he was later dropped from Jefferson's cabinet and plotted to have the western states secede from the Union, which led to his fatal duel with Alexander Hamilton in 1804. Though tried for treason, Burr was acquitted but his political career was ruined.

2.  Early Life
◦ Continental Army
 Middle Life
◦ Went to law
◦ Senator of New York
◦ Election of 1800
 Jefferson asked for Burr’s Help, Burr developed
“political campaigns”
 Late/Dead Life?
◦ Guilty of crimes, pretty much a dead man.

3.  Early Life to Mid Life
◦ Served in Constitutional Convention
◦ Served in Army
◦ Bank
◦ Debts
 Mid Life to death
◦ Burr conflict

4.  Jefferson and Burr tied in election.
 Tied 73 votes.
 House chose Jefferson as President and Burr
as Vice-President.
 Dropped from cabinet

5.  After dropped, Burr started to plot secession
 Hamilton foiled the plan
 Burr challenged Hamilton
 Hamilton was wounded badly, died next day.
 Never really tried in court.
 July 11, 1804

6.  Burr had leased land in Texas.
 Worked with General James Wilkinson
 Went over to the West, and supposedly tried
to separate the West from the East
 Wilkinson soon betrayed Burr, after he found
out Jefferson found out the scheme
 Arrested and tried for treason by John
Marshall but was acquitted
 James Wilkinson’s “handwritten evidence”

7.  Election of 1800, Twelfth Amendment which
changed the way of voting for vice-president
 Federalist party destroyed. Led to
Democratic-Republicans
 Even Hamilton as a Federalist supported
Jefferson more than Burr

8.  Hamilton’s son was killed in a duel. Related to
why he couldn’t pull the trigger?
 Samuel Swartwout said to have been on Burr’s
boat?
 Hamilton fired in the air, Burr perceived it as
“throwing away his shot” and fired back
◦ Different perspective from different historians.
Some say it was meant to miss, while others say he
wanted to ruin Burr’s life once and for all.

9.  American Pageant book
 http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/duel.ht
m
 http://americanhistory.about.com/od/crimei
namerica/a/burr-hamilton-duel.htm