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Aaron Burr was the second vice-president of the United States. He surely is the most enigmatic figure in American history. He became influential in the New York Democratic-Republican Party where he contested elections with Federalist leader Alexander Hamilton. He was elected New York senator (1791). A defect in the Constitution provide him an opportunity to seize the presidency from Democratic Republican presidential candidate Thomas Jefferson in one of the key elections in American history (1800). He was twarted when Federalist leader Alexander Hamilton threw his support to Jffereson--his great rival. The simmering dispute between Burr and Hamilton, led Burr to challenge Hamiltin to a duel resuklting in Hamilton's death (1804). A plan to seize Spanish North America led to one of the most famous trials in American history--the Burr Treason trial (1807). He was acquitted and lived ir atime in England. He eventually returned to New York to practice law (1812).
He became influential in the New York Democratic-Republican Party where he contested elections with Federalist leader Alexander Hamilton. He was elected New York senator (1791).
The election of 1800 between incumbent Federalist President John Adams and Democratic-Republican Leader Thomas Jefferson was one of the critical elections in American history. It was the first change of power from one party to another which is a defining moment in an republic. It is one of the reasons why monarchy survived for so long. It provided a regulrized way of transferring power. Burr emerged as one of the most enigmatic figure in American history during the election. He played a key role in the election as New York was such an important state. A defect in the Constitution, however, provide him an opportunity to seize the presidency from Democratic Republican presidential candidate Thomas Jefferson in one of the key elections in American history (1800). Burr who was nominated the Democratic-Republican
vice presidetial candidated, declined to defer to Jefferson, the party's presidential candidate. He was twarted when Federalist leader Alexander Hamilton threw his support to Jeffereson--his great rival. Burr as a result was selected by the House of Represenatives as the second vice-president of the United States, what the Democratic-Republicans had intended.
President Jeffereson, as a result of the Electorl College affair, oustrasized Vice President Burr and refused to allow him to play any role in the newd administration. Burr also lost any influence in the New York state Democratic-Republican Party.
The simmering conflict between Burr and Hamilton finally exploded. Articles about him by Hamilton pub;ished in newspapers led Burr to challenge Hamiltin to a duel. This resulting in Hamilton's death (1804). Hamilton was such an important figure in the American Revolution and as first Secretary of the TRreasury that Burr as villanized in the popular mind after the duel. This may be just and it reveals an aspect of Burrs character toward dealing with his rivals. In fainess though, journalistic ethics at the time were non-existant and Hamilton engaged in inflamatory personal attacks against Burr.
With his reputation ruined and his political career in New York gone, Burr decided to seek his future in the West. There is no doubt that Burr attempted to otganize a military expedition against Spain ans seize thenorthern portion of Spanish Mexico (the modern American Southwest). At the time, the United States had just purchased Louisana a few yeas earlier and the American presence beyond the Mississippi was virtually non existent. Spanin head norther Mexico very weakly. He discussed the expedition with American military officers like General Wilkinson. He also spoke with Andrew Jack who was at the gime a rising star in Tennessee. What is in dispute, however, is just what his intentions were. He does not seem to have shared his full plan with anyone or set in down on paper.
The plan to seize Spanish North America led to one of the most famous trials in American history--the Burr Treason trial (1807). The Jefferson Admiistration which despised Burr because of his attempt to seize the presidency in 1800 had ample reason to asuspect a plot that went far beyond invading Spanish Mexico. The Admonisration accused him of treson and chared hathecwas planning to foment rebellion in the Western states and declare himself king. Burr denied the accusations and charged that the Jefferson Administration was conducting a political vendetta against him. There were several problems in trying him for treson. First, he seems to have been careful to leac=ve a minimal pper trail. Second, while treason is an instanly recognizable term, it is not very clearly defined in the new Federal Constitution. And the trial trned on juust what treason meant. The Administration contended tht mere discussion and conspiracy constituted treason. Chief Justice John Marshall, another Jefferson opponent, found that conviction requied an overt act. Marshall was a Federalist appointment and after the 1800 electin, the Federalist dominated judiciary was the only important political opposition to the Jefferson and the Democratic-Republicans. The trial proved to be a klandmark case in American jurisprudence. And the definition of treason was just one matter. American as a very new country. The law of evidence in trials was not well established. The procecutors along with documentary evidence, introduced hearsay, rumor, and questinable documents. Chief Justice Marshall's rulings on the admissability of ecidence the procecutors attempted to introduce would become the foundation on which modern rules of evidence are based. [Hoffer] This further fuled the animosity between President Jefferson and Chief Justice Marshall. Burr was acquitted.
Burr moved to England after his trason trial and lived their for a time. He eventually returned to New York to practice law (1812).
Hoffer, Peter Charles. The Treason Trials of Aaron Burr.
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