"My Friend Hamilton—Whom I Shot"
A Historiographical Discussion of the Duel Between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton
Steven C. Smith
Phi Alpha Theta
Ohio Regional Conference
Ohio Northern University
3 April 2004
The duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton holds a significant relevance in
American history and should be examined within the context of early American culture and
politics. The recent historiography of the incident provides us with a complex, evolving web of
conflicting interpretations. Since the day of this tragic duel, contemporaries and historians have
puzzled over why these two prominent American statesmen confronted each other on the Plains
of Weehawken. What circumstances or events could have motivated two of the most brilliant
political minds in America to endanger their lives and reputations by taking aim at each other on
that dismal day?
The recent historiography of the event can be divided into two schools which I shall......
Join Now or Login to view the rest of this paper.
Approximate Word Count: 6651
Approximate Pages: 26 (260 words per double-spaced page) |