The Hamilton-Burr Duel

The Hamilton-Burr duel in 1804 was a private firefight between Alexander Hamilton, a founding father and former Secretary of the Treasury, and Aaron Burr, then Vice President. Tensions arose from political disagreements and personal insults, culminating in Burr challenging Hamilton to a duel. Dueling was a formal, though illegal, way to defend one’s honor, typically involving firearms. On the day of the duel in New Jersey, Burr shot Hamilton, who was mortally wounded and died the next day. The incident highlighted the intense political rivalries of the time and led to the decline of dueling practices in America.