Aaron Burr stands apart from the other Founding Fathers—then and now. Debates continue whether he was a significant political figure or a scoundrel and a traitor. He was a hero of the Revolutionary War, a United States senator, and the third vice president, preceded only by John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
Jefferson twice selected Burr to be his vice-presidential running mate. Burr proposed abolishing slavery, advocated for women’s rights, helped clarify the separation of powers in the handling of American diplomacy—and even kept Alexander Hamilton from participating in a duel with a future president, James Monroe.
Yet Burr’s legacy is usually defined by his role in the presidential election of 1800, his potential attempt to create a breakaway nation for which he faced a trial for treason, and most notably his 1804 duel with Hamilton leading to Burr’s indictment in two states for murder.
Historian Ralph Nurnberger discusses the many facets of this fascinating early American political leader and whether he’s best remembered as a patriot or a villain.
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