The following is a review of the book Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr: Their Lives, Their Times, Their Duel, by Anna Erskine Crouse and Russel Crouse. The authors depict Hamilton and Burr’s lives from childhood to the men who provided much influence in America and in its beginnings. In the reading, both men live separate lives although, unknowingly they run parallel with one another. Their hunger for education, military careers, and involvement with the government; all of which come to a clashing end known as the most famous duel in American history.
Alexander Hamilton is born in the Caribbean to a middle working class family. His interest in math and stunning ability to do calculations appear to the individuals around him at an early age. In 1773, he leaves his home in St. Croix after the death of his mother and travels to America seeking higher education. Hamilton’s intentions are to attend Princeton University, although his proposal to the university of allowing him “to advance from class to class as much rapidity as his exertions would enable him” (27) are denied. This obstacle does not stop him and in 1774 starts classes at King’s College in New York, now Columbia University.
Aaron Burr is born in New Jersey to a well respected family. His father was a graduate of Yale and was the second president of the College of New Jersey. By the age of two, Burr’s grandfather, grandmother, father, and mother have all died from disease and he falls under the care of his uncle, Timothy Edwards. The book depicts Burr having a strong personality, continuously challenging his uncle. This behavior appears later and influences decisions made in life. Discontent, Burr decides that he needs to leave his Uncle’s control and in order to accomp...
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...ster min in failed attempts in regaining political presence and power. One of the attempts would lead him of being accused of treason, but would be acquitted of the charges. Aaron Burr would live a life of continued failure and turmoil, suffering a stroke and later dying at the 80.
The writers of the literature provided great insight of the lives of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr. The composure of the writing was easy to follow and read. It is not stated anywhere about each of their lives being parallel to one another, but with the style the information is provided it becomes apparent. Anna and Russel Crouse provide a quick read packed with pertinent information.
Works Cited
Crouse, Anna Erskine., and Russel Crouse. Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr: Their
Lives, Their Times, Their Duel. New York: Random House, 1958. Print.
A travesty occurred on this July 11, 1804. In response to Vice-President Burr’s challenge a duel took place on the grounds of Weekhawken, New Jersey, on the very spot where Mr. Hamilton’s eldest son Phillip had died. This day of reckoning has been long approaching. Each man has opposed the other during their political careers. It is supposed the duel was provoked by Burr after personal exploitation sparked by Hamilton, this along with the public humiliation of a lost election. Some dire insults can only be dispelled with an extreme display of bravery. Had Burr not defended his honor others may have considered him as a man, not possessing sufficient firmness to defend his own character, and consequently unworthy of their support. Vice-President Burr’s reasoning most certainly was centered on protecting both his political career and his goodness.
Unfortunately, by choosing to focus on only a few events, Ellis's book fails in that it lacks somewhat of a scope. The book also focuses on some of the founding brothers in much greater detail than others. While I come away with a wealth of knowledge about both Adams and Jefferson, I have less knowledge of Ben Franklin and Aaron Burr, as Ellis's focus is significantly less on them.
This is where Hamilton dies, but actually both of the participants were casualties because Hamilton died, but was honored by the people and the government. However, Burr lost everything such as his reputation, and his position. Major mistakes that come from Burr and Hamilton was when Burr betrayed Jefferson when he was running his second term by switching political parties Jefferson's enemy Federalists which made Hamilton to say that he's despicable. Burr is too ambitious and desperate when it comes to politics like Jefferson. Hamilton in other hand was an arrogant. He insults Burr periodically, which made Burr to lose his position and reputation by publicly. In conclusion, by starting with a violent clash between Hamilton and Burr, establishes that the stakes for which these men had learned to debate one another. The end of this chapter did end in violent death, but the reader now understands that the author views these relationships as fiery and passionate although they were flawed by destroying their friendship, lives, and careers by insulting, killing, debating, and betraying one another, but they all failed to achieve their full aspirations due to their flawed
The author's twenty page preface details “The Generation”, which he asserts that despite current trends in scholarship, the real essence of the revolutionary era lies in the thoughts and deeds of this handful of Patriot elites, which had publicly pledged at great peril to their own lives and fortunes their undeniable support for the ideals of our founding documents. America's most famous (or infamous) duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr is the backdrop for first chapter. This might lead one to think Ellis intends to move backward in time through the book, considering it occurred on July 11, 1804, however such is not the case as mentioned. Ellis does manage to present a fairly balanced view of the part played by both participants in the long war of words which finally led to the deadly showdown near Weehawken, New Jersey, providing an accounting of the historical scholarship on this well told chapter of our history.
"Teaching History.org, Home of the National History Education Clearinghouse." Jefferson versus Hamilton. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. .
Before being tried for treason, Burr was the vice president in the first Jefferson Administration and he killed his rival Alexander Hamilton in a duel that ultimately destroyed any chance of Burr continuing in politics. As a result, Burr started to accumulate men and supplies as he led expeditions out West near Spanish territories to start anew and rebuild his name. However, because his intentions were made unclear and one of his co-conspirators, General Wilkinson,
The day that Alexander Hamilton was first placed into the United States Government would be the day which would forever change our nation. The time when he would start and create a fantastic economy out of scratch. He did it with one brilliant five point plan. But there were three parts of the plan which were the body of this project. These were the assumption of state debt, the whiskey tax, and the construction of a national bank. All of these together would enhance our economy, before the tyrant Jackson would destroy them (bank). Nevertheless, his plan dealt with and solved the tough issues such as federal debt, government money supply, and economical shape throughout our nation. So for these answers he gave to our people, we must be grateful
(Donald J. D’Elia, Paragraph 36). Alexander Hamilton was a great leader of the United States, the possessed many honorable traits. Unfortunately, his death did not come from natural causes. Alexander Hamilton was involved in a duel with Aaron Burr, the vice president, that he would ultimately lose and it would take his life. “At first glance, the storied Hamilton-Burr duel seems an aberrant, if fascinating, episode in early American history.
Your name Your teacher Date Hamilton and the Economy Since the birth of the country, there have been many influences on its development. The economy in particular is an area of great importance. Many people have been factors in the growth of the United States’ economy. Perhaps the earliest and most influential of these was Alexander Hamilton. As shown in his effective policies, such as assumption of Revolutionary War debts, practical taxation, formation of the National Bank, and views on manufacturing, Hamilton was a dominant force from the beginning.
Aaron Burr was born in New Jersey in 1756. He was involved in many political events though out his life. He was the second president of Princeton, and he was the grandson of Jonathon Edwards. This man had politics woven all through him. While at the college of New Jersey, which later became Princeton, Burr was studying theology, but he quickly switched his degree to law. Aaron Burr also served sometime in the military, including fighting in the Revolutionary War, but soon resigned after he had some health issues. He was married for several years, and had one child to die and his wife as well. Even though Burr had a rough life in the beginning to the loss of his wife and daughter, he was very successful as a lawyer. His first contact with Alexander Hamilton was when he was in New York, and they shared a practice of law with one another. However, this was soon to end because Aaron Burr was elected Attorney General by New York Governor George Clinton, the later in1791 he was elected senator. He also was the third vice president under Thomas Jefferson, and an active member of the Democratic Party.
Alexander Hamilton was born a bastard child in the West Indies and demonstrated great intellectual potential at an early age. He was sent to New York City for schooling and studied at King’s College, now Columbia University. His vision of America took a more capitalistic tone and “he was determined to transform an economically weak and fractious cluster of states into a powerful global force” (Tindall & Shi, 2010). Hamilton advocated a strong central government. He was bold and persuasive and his philosophies quite extraordinary for his time.
Aaron Burr was born in Newark New Jersey on February 6, 1756, and Burr was educated at what is now Princeton University. Burr joined the Continental Army in 1775, and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Burr was appointed attorney general of New York in 1789 and served as a United States senator from 1791 to 1797 (Onager CD-ROM). In the Election of 1800, Aaron Burr was the running mate of Republican candidate Thomas Jefferson. Although Burr was running for vice-president, he received as many votes as Jefferson did, and the House of Representatives chose Jefferson as president. After Burr’s term as vice-president was over and he lost the race for the governorship of New York, Burr fought Alexander Hamilton in a duel in Weekawhen, New Jersey, on July 11,1804. Aaron Burr killed his political rival, Alexander Hamilton, and his credibility as a politician in that duel. Shortly after the duel, Aaron Burr became involved in a plot known as the Burr Conspiracy. After the scheme was discovered by Thomas Jefferson, Aaron Burr was arrested for treason. Burr was acquitted after a six-month trial on September 1, 1807.
It was a cold morning in Newark, NJ, on the 16th of February 1756 when my good friend Aaron Burr, Jr. was born. My family lived next door to the Burr residence and became very friendly with the Reverend Aaron Burr, Sr and his wife Esther. Aaron and I attended Princeton University where we originally studied theology, but later gave up it began the study of law in Litchfield, Connecticut. Our studies were put on hold while we served during the Revolutionary War, under Generals Benedict Arnold, George Washington, and Israel Putnam.
The Aaron Burr Trial of 1807, commonly referred to as the Burr Conspiracy, is the setting where Aaron Burr was charged three times over with treason. Burr was not tried the first or second time he was accused, but the third time he was tried in Richmond in 1807, still he was never convicted. Aaron Burr ⎼ the defendant ⎼ was one of the founding fathers of the new nation, as well as the third Vice President of America, he is best known though for his duel with Alexander Hamilton in 1804 which ended with Hamilton’s death. The trial judge was John Marshall ⎼ Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Finally, the man behind the prosecution was Burr’s own President, Thomas Jefferson ⎼ founding father, author of the Declaration of Independence,
Hamilton is a musical interpretation of the life of Alexander Hamilton. The story follows Hamilton from his first comings to the 13 colonies, through the American Revolution and the forming of the Constitution, to his death by duel. The whole story of Hamilton’s life is narrated by Hamilton’s political nemesis, Aaron Burr.