My Friend Hamilton -Who I shot

A Historiographical Discussion of the Duel Between Aaron Burr and

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

denote as the “contextual” school and the “psycho-historical” school. These differing “schools”

demonstrate the complexity of history and the extent to which a variety of factors, including bias

and changing frames of reference can influence interpretive study and conclusions. It is the

object of this discussion, therefore, to examine the heretofore mentioned interpretations, and to

critically analyze the differing ideas concerning the Burr-Hamilton duel.

The most succinct version of the event, as told by Joseph J. Ellis reads

On the morning of July 11, 1804, Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton were rowed across the

Hudson River in separate boats to a secluded spot near Weehawken, New Jersey. There, in

accord with the customs of the code duello, they exchanged pistol shots at ten paces. Hamilton

was struck on his right side and died the following day. Though unhurt, Burr found that his

reputation suffered an equally fatal wound. In this, the most famous duel in American history,

both participants were casualties.1

Almost every American is familiar with this most famous—and deadly—of American

duels. Hamilton was celebrated and hailed as a martyr, and Burr was labeled a murderer and

went on to undertake many strange adventures in the American west, eventually tried for treason

for his purported conspiratorial intentions. Before engaging further in this discussion, one must

first differentiate between what I have denoted as “contextual” history and “psycho-historical”

history. I contend that “contextual” ...

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