10. Republicans in Power, 1800

Chapter Chronology

Quiz for Making Historical Arguments: How Could a Vice President Get Away with Murder?

Select the best answer for each question. Click the “submit” button for each question to turn in your work.

Question 10.1

1. What event led Aaron Burr to challenge Alexander Hamilton to a duel in 1804?

An election for governor of New York in which Hamilton defeated Burr with a sizeable majority

The publication of a newspaper article in which Hamilton said he distrusted Burr as a political leader

A public debate between Burr and Hamilton in which Hamilton erroneously characterized Burr’s political beliefs

A tavern fight in New York City, during which Hamilton caused a life-threatening injury to Burr’s brother

Question 10.2

2. How did Northerners and Southerners respond differently to the news of Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton’s illegal duel in 1804?

Northerners were angry and reaffirmed the criminalization of dueling, while Southerners felt that dueling was an acceptable practice.

While Northerners and Southerners all mourned Hamilton’s death, only Southerners attempted to get Burr removed from his position as Vice President.

Northerners argued that Burr should be sentenced to murder, while Southerners argued for the lesser charge of issuing a challenge to duel.

More northern states moved to criminalize dueling, while many southern states actually decriminalized dueling by the end of 1804.

Question 10.3

3. On what grounds did the senate Republicans argue that Aaron Burr’s indictment for murder should be dropped by the state of New Jersey?

The federal government, not New Jersey, had jurisdiction in such cases.

Aaron Burr had fired his gun at Alexander Hamilton in self-defense.

Dueling deaths were more civilized than common murders.

The President and Vice President were immune from criminal charges.

Question 10.4

4. On what grounds were duels fought in late eighteenth and early nineteenth century, as illustrated by the duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton?

As part of a battle during times of war

In retribution for acts of physical violence

To determine who would get a woman’s hand in marriage

To redress insults to a gentleman’s honor

Question 10.5

5. What does the story of Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton’s duel suggest about early American masculine culture?

One source of sectional tension already evident in the early Republic was that the North and the South had different notions of masculinity.

A man’s honor was one of his most highly prized qualities, and insults to honor were offenses worthy of extreme acts of retribution.

Masculine culture in the early nineteenth century was characterized by an affinity for shooting, hunting, and other forms of outdoor recreation.