Aaron Burr Essay Research Paper Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr Essay, Research Paper
Aaron Burr Jr. , the boy of Ester Edwards Burr and Reverend Mr. Aaron Burr was born on February 6, 1756 in Newark, New Jersey. He was besides the grandson of the celebrated theologist, Jonathan Edwards. His male parent earned his life as a curate at The Newark Presbyterian Congregation and the president of The College of New Jersey, which subsequently became the Ivy League school, Princeton University. Upon graduating from Princeton University at the age of 16, Burr Jr. became a attorney, although his surveies were limited to theology. Following this, he delivered an oration entitled Building Castles in the Air. These palaces, it has been said, were lying in the West waiting for Burr? s competency.
After retiring from the Continental Army as a field officer, Burr practiced jurisprudence. He was so appointed as the lawyer general of New York in 1789 and served as a United States senator from 1791 to 1797. But this shortly ended as he joined the Thomas Jefferson group led by James Monroe in the Senate and James Madison in the House of Representatives. He served under Thomas Jefferson as the 3rd Vice President in United States? history.
As the Election of 1800 Drew near, Burr took the temptingness to put up an faultless ticket. It would put both him and Jefferson on the same Ballot so it would be a certain win. He would be the first politician that took advantage of party organisation. Therefore, as the ballots were counted, it would be that the Republicans prevailed. During the election, Burr favored financess to stop Indian foraies. Burr fought hard to win the election and was certainly he was traveling to win. In fact, it was a tie between him and his running mate, Thomas Jefferson. The electoral ballots enumerated as 73 for both Burr and Jefferson. However, Jefferson went on to win the election by determination of the House of Representatives.
Much to make with oppressing Burr? s dreams of functioning in the highest office, was Alexander Hamilton. He introduced personalities and most significantly, slandered Burr to make everything in his strength to strike hard him out. Burr attempted to reassemble his political calling but this merely brought an affray with Hamilton.
Increased animus between the two work forces merely became bettering. In 1804, after his term of frailty presidential term, Burr ran for the governorship of New York State. In bend, Burr was defeated one time once more at political office. Burr resented the fact that Hamilton was lying about him and merely looking to do an enemy.
Burr so challenged Hamilton to a double under the Palisades at Weehawken, New Jersey in 1804. The gun Hamilton used was fired but missed Burr. Historians are non certain what truly happened on that mid-summer twenty-four hours. It has been proposed that Hamilton tried to do an border by utilizing a gun with a hair-like trigger. If this is so, so he was either non ready, was nervous, missed on intent, or was simply a bad shooting. Burr took advantage, shooting and killed Hamilton. Not noticeable to Burr at foremost, this action at length, ended his political calling. It has been said that this is the most celebrated affaire d’honneur in history. Certainly it was the terminal of Hamilton? s calling, but who was to state it was the terminal of Burr? s?
Despite all the regulations of the dueling codification had been recognized, intelligence of Hamilton? s decease spread like wildfire and hatred towards Burr rapidly brewed. Finally, indictments were brought against Burr for slaying. He was a wanted adult male in both New Jersey and New York. However, to his good luck, he ne’er had to confront a jury. As if nil happened, Burr returned to Washington to carry through the remainder of his term.
Although this was the official terminal of Burr? s political calling, it was merely a beginning in his eyes. Chiefly because of the slaying indictments, Burr decided to fly westward. In efforts to beat up back his political calling, he strived to put up an independent republic E of the Mississippi River. He was about to come in the awaited war with Spain by occupying Mexico and doing himself that state? s male monarch. He schemed to raise an ground forces along the Tombigee River and take over Florida. ? Burr seldom joined groups, but groups frequently joined him. ? ( Nagil, Great Lives from History 360 )
His programs included having support from Great Britain in instance of a war between Spain and the United States. The designs besides included raising an ground forces that would liberate Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, and the Western districts of Spanish authorization. Notwithstanding, his secret plan to make a democracy did non prehend here. The program extended to taking over all of Mexico, hence, liberating it from Spanish rule.
Burr recruited several work forces to fall in and back up ( financially ) his ground forces. At this clip, he ran into a adult male by the name of John Wilkinson. Failing as both a baccy husbandman and land speculator after retirement from the ground forces, he was appointed as the General of Burr? s ground forces.
As the? Washington of the West, ? Wilkinson attempted to rally 1000s of soldiers to go down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. This would be the foundation for Burr? s supplies and enlisting. The strategy was to travel West and south until all land was snatched from the Spanish so Burr could hold himself a new state. And? Mexico was ripe for a rebellion, and the rebellion needs a leader. ? ( Chidsy, The Great Conspiracy 46 )
This program, nevertheless, had a defect. The lone manner it would work was if the United States and Spain went to war. Even though? Nine out of 10 Americans believed a war with Spain was inevitable, ? ( Chidsy 40 ) the United States ne’er went to war with Spain.
Burr thought for certain that there would be a war. All he needed was more financess. He went to Philadelphia for his girl Theodosia, and ventured out west one time once more, with the purpose of ne’er to return.
Burr? s defect in his program became noticeable around this clip. Jefferson declared peace between the United States and Spain about the same clip he caught air current of Burr? s motions. Startled that the fibre of American society is at interest, he ordered Burr to be captured and brought to penalty.
Finally, in demand of financess, he encountered a affluent adult male by the name of Blennerhasset. This adult male owned an island a few stat mis down the Ohio River from Muskingham. The old Indian entombment land was a narrow 300 acre infinite that would be important for his strategy. Blennerhasset, who was fond of Burr, frequently had confabs with him stating how he would be King Aaron I of Mexico and his girl would be a princess. Blennerhasset, correspondent to Burr, was so a separationist.
Facts have it that Burr approached many officers for support. More for the money than military abilities, Burr requested a one General Eaton. Besides, Commodore Thomas Truxton, the most capably seaman on land, harmonizing to Burr was approached. However, much to Burr? s despise, these work forces wanted nil to make with Burr and his hideous undertakings. Not everyone denied Burr though. Comfort Tyler accepted the program with unfastened weaponries since Burr rescued him by bailing him out of gaol. And of class, Burr had the might James Wilkinson ready to contend, or so Burr idea.
Burr had a changeless flow of military personnels coming to Blennerhasset Island. The island was to be covert to the point where he would non let bugles or parades. He did non desire anyone cognizing about the expedition. Nevertheless, neighbours of the nearby island noticed something peculiar. The rumours of what they saw all varied but consisted of detecting a myriad of soldiers amongst the island. ? Estimates ran every bit high as 30,000 people.
? ( Chidsy 60 )
Wilkinson, the superior general, shortly betrayed Burr. Reasons why he turned on Burr vary. The most important is that he saw the ground forces? s dark hereafter. The decease of William Pitt came and Wilkinson learned of Charles Fox taking over the British authorities. This would stop British support for the expedition and finally drive it to the land. He panicked, and dropped out of Burr? s confederacy.
Two letters arrived at the White House on the same twenty-four hours. Two letters that spoke out against Aaron Burr. The first was from Wilkinson explicating that he discovered Burr? s secret plan to divide the West from the East. Later a similar missive was received from Governor Claiborne speech production of similar images.
With this, Burr started to fear that he had a undercover agent in his group and began to take safeguards. It was clip to travel. Eleven boats were occupied by his soldiers. He did non hold many work forces and comforted the 1s he did hold by stating? We will enroll as we go. ? ( Chidsy 74 ) Historians proclaim that he could hold recruited 1,500 work forces, easy. Burr learned of Wilkinson? s disloyalty when he tried to enroll Lieutenant Jacob Jackson. On January 10 he arrived in the Mississippi Territory and read in the Mississippi Gazette that there was a warrant out for his apprehension.
Because of this, Burr decided to travel into concealment. One clip he tried to sew a note onto a slave male child in attempts to reach his military personnels. The note read: ? If you are yet together, maintain together and I will fall in you tomorrow dark. In the average clip put all your weaponries in perfect order. Ask the carrier no inquiries but tell all you may believe I wish to cognize. He does non cognize this from me nor where I am. ? ( Passos, The Conspiracy and Trial of Aaron Burr 77 )
However, Burr was captured shortly after.
The test, directed at Burr on the charge of lese majesty, is the one test in United States history that defined the term lese majesty. The location for the test was centered in Richmond, Virginia. The presiding justice at the clip was Chief Justice Marshall. Richmond was the site of the test since Burr concocted his ground forces on Blennerhasset Island, which is in Virginia. At the immediate start of the test there was a struggle between President Jefferson and Chief Justice Marshall. There are many allotments that support the fact that this may hold affected the result of the test.
George Hay, of the prosecution, brought up two charges against Burr: One was plotting a war against Spain. The other was plotting a war against the United States. Burr was released at $ 25,000 dollars bond.
In a missive Burr wrote to his girl he gave inside informations of the jury. ? The Grand Jury is composed of 20 Democrats and four Federalists. Among the former is W.C. Nicholas, my revengeful and avowed personal enemy. ? ( Davis, Memoirs of Aaron Burr 405 )
Thomas Jefferson, a former challenger, wanted Burr to be convicted every bit rapidly as possible. And a paper that could hold been really strong grounds against Burr was thrown off because of the fact that there was a little opportunity that Burr may non hold written it while Baton Rouge was still Spanish district. It made out how Burr did, in fact, roll up money and work forces and contemplated prehending Baton Rouge. It was important to the prosecution that Burr ne’er denied composing it. The authorities had no job turn outing that Burr raised money and work forces on Blennerhasset Island. The lone job was that they could non work the grounds into anything higher than a misdemeanor charge.
The hardest thing Burr had to face was the public sentiment. He was largely the underdog because Jefferson, the all-powerful influential President, was against Aaron Burr.
Another important point for the prosecution was that Burr attended a dinner that Chief Justice Marshall showed his face to. To turn out Burr guilty the prosecution needed two informants. The two chief informants the authorities was trusting on were General James Wilkinson and Mr. Eaton. However, Eaton & # 8217 ; s testimony was about wholly hearsay and had to be thrown out. Wilkinson eventually made his introduction on the base and started out by touting about how he single-handedly saved the state by turning Burr in.
More informants, but non important informants, made visual aspects in the courtroom. Two retainers of Blennerhasset Island reported hearing that Burr was traveling to do himself the emperor of Mexico. One sergeant, Jacob Dunbaugh, testified that he saw many muskets being thrown into the river before the searching at Thompson & # 8217 ; s Bayou for hints. However, he was the lone 1 who reported seeing this. Again, another piece of grounds was thrown out.
Animosity between Jefferson and Chief Justice Marshall really helped Burr get away a strong belief. This produced a test with unmistakably personal struggles. Jefferson concluded that Burr was seeking to interrupt up the Union and organize his ain Confederacy. Weakness in the test instantly became seeable.
Marshall paid off his mark against Jefferson by publishing a subpoena telling the President to do an visual aspect in tribunal. However, an unwise determination made by Jefferson was made. He did non follow with it and this may hold caused the result of the finding of fact. Jefferson & # 8217 ; s account was that he refused to demo that the judicial subdivision held superior to the executive. Even further, the prosecution relied on him because he was the 2nd informant which meant Burr would get down to worry of the word guilty.
Section 3 of Article 3 of the United States Constitution reads: ? Treason against the United States shall dwell merely in imposing War against them, or adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted unless on the testimony of two informants to the same act. The Congress shall hold power to declare the penalty of lese majesty, but no civil death lese majesty shall work corruptness of blood or forfeiture except during the life of the attained ( Knappman, Great American Trials 81 ) .
Fortunately for Burr the prosecution merely had ownership of Wilkinson. After an extended twosome of months the finding of fact was read by a clerk: & # 8220 ; We the jury say that Aaron Burr is non proved guilty under this indictment by any grounds submitted to us. We hence, happen him non guilty & # 8221 ; ( Knappman 83 ) . This opinion, nevertheless, did non maintain the populace from their belief that Burr was guilty.
After the finding of fact, Thomas Jefferson admitted? There is deficient grounds to convict Burr of treason. ? ( Miller, The Emergence of the Nation 113 ) And even though Burr was found inexperienced person, when asked to stand test in Ohio, he fled to Europe. It is possible that Burr feared that more grounds would demo up in the 2nd test.
When he arrived in Europe, Burr pleaded to the British authorities to emancipate Latin America. He besides tried to carry the Spaniards, who were defying Gallic control to follow the broad fundamental law developed by Jerermy Benthem of England.
As his life neared the terminal, he finally came back to the Western World. He became interested in conveying German colonists to Texas and attempted to set up contact with Texas revolutionaries. Burr married for the 2nd clip late in his life. His married woman, when she realized her life was amidst her hubbies? land guess, they separated after four months. She finally sued for divorce which was granted the twenty-four hours he died, September 14, 1836.
He is remembered as one of history? s greatest also-rans, a treasonist, a condemnable, and most of all the Vice President who murdered Alexander Hamilton.
