Correct. The answer is b. In June 1804, Burr learned about a newspaper article that described how Hamilton believed Burr “ought not be trusted with the reins of government.” The fact that a private conflict between two political leaders had now become public knowledge angered Burr, especially because he believed that the newspaper article was the reason he had lost the election for governor of New York. After Hamilton refused to recant his comment, Burr challenged him to a duel.

Incorrect. The answer is b. In June 1804, Burr learned about a newspaper article that described how Hamilton believed Burr “ought not be trusted with the reins of government.” The fact that a private conflict between two political leaders had now become public knowledge angered Burr, especially because he believed that the newspaper article was the reason he had lost the election for governor of New York. After Hamilton refused to recant his comment, Burr challenged him to a duel.

Correct. The answer is a. The response to the duel, and to the legality of dueling in general, was sharply divided along sectional lines. Dueling had recently been criminalized in many northern states, and in the years that followed Hamilton and Burr’s duel, dueling became extremely rare in the North. By contrast, Southerners continued to embrace dueling as an acceptable extralegal practice in cases of insults to honor. There is no evidence in this essay that any southern states had criminalized dueling before 1804.

Incorrect. The answer is a. The response to the duel, and to the legality of dueling in general, was sharply divided along sectional lines. Dueling had recently been criminalized in many northern states, and in the years that followed Hamilton and Burr’s duel, dueling became extremely rare in the North. By contrast, Southerners continued to embrace dueling as an acceptable extralegal practice in cases of insults to honor. There is no evidence in this essay that any southern states had criminalized dueling before 1804.

Correct. The answer is c. The Republicans in the Senate argued that “civilized nations” like the United States simply did not treat deaths by dueling in the same way as “common murders,” and therefore Burr should not be indicted for murder. This statement illustrates the idea of gentlemanly honor that surrounded dueling in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, which understood the duel as a ritual to redress offenses to honor. Such sentiments, however, were fading in the North by 1804, resulting in the criminalization of dueling in many northern states.

Incorrect. The answer is c. The Republicans in the Senate argued that “civilized nations” like the United States simply did not treat deaths by dueling in the same way as “common murders,” and therefore Burr should not be indicted for murder. This statement illustrates the idea of gentlemanly honor that surrounded dueling in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, which understood the duel as a ritual to redress offenses to honor. Such sentiments, however, were fading in the North by 1804, resulting in the criminalization of dueling in many northern states.

Correct. The answer is d. Burr and Hamilton’s duel illustrates the culture surrounding dueling in the early Republic: dueling functioned as a highly ritualized extralegal method for redressing an insult to a gentleman’s honor. Dueling was the domain of men, not women, and of southerners more frequently than northerners, especially by the 1820s.

Incorrect. The answer is d. Burr and Hamilton’s duel illustrates the culture surrounding dueling in the early Republic: dueling functioned as a highly ritualized extralegal method for redressing an insult to a gentleman’s honor. Dueling was the domain of men, not women, and of southerners more frequently than northerners, especially by the 1820s.

Correct. The answer is b. The duel between Burr and Hamilton provides an excellent illustration of the significance of honor, and retribution of offenses to one’s honor, in early American masculine culture. Fastidiously protecting one’s honor—particularly against offenses printed in public spaces, such as in newspapers—was extremely important, particularly to men with social status and men in the South.

Incorrect. The answer is b. The duel between Burr and Hamilton provides an excellent illustration of the significance of honor, and retribution of offenses to one’s honor, in early American masculine culture. Fastidiously protecting one’s honor—particularly against offenses printed in public spaces, such as in newspapers—was extremely important, particularly to men with social status and men in the South.