Flashback Four : The Hamilton-Burr Duel

July 11, 1804

Long before social media created the ease of public trash-talking, it was being done in person, face-to-face, and in public...and sometimes that led to dueling.  The Hamilton-Burr duel is one of the most infamous duels!

Alexander Hamilton was Secretary of Treasury; Aaron Burr became Vice-President; and their rivalry began long before 1804!  In 1791, Burr defeated Hamilton's father-in-law for the Senate.  They were on opposite sides of the political fence, and bad feelings were sown.

In the election of 1800, Hamilton became the tie-breaking vote between Burr and Jefferson -- for President.  Hamilton didn't like either man, but due to his long-held grudge against Burr, Jefferson won the Presidency.

Fast forward four years...Burr is running for Governor of New York, and Hamilton is campaigning hard against him...and the other guy wins.  There's some trash-talking going on, angry letters are exchanged, a non-apology (when you don't really mean you're sorry, or even truly say you're sorry) was offered, and Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel.

Dueling wasn't technically legal anymore, but the men had been fighting for years now, so...  They met in the early morning hours, at the Heights of Weehawken, New Jersey, and brought their 'seconds' with them.  The next day, Hamilton died from his wounds. 

Our spine read for this unit is The Hamilton-Burr Duel

Access the complete unit in the American History Novel Studies Bundle!

Includes sixteen unit studies covering American History. Each unit addresses a new topic, spanning the Revolutionary War to Vietnam.  Each unit has introductory text, which will give the student basic background information about the topic at hand.

• There are photographs and illustrations, and we have also included primary documents when available.
• After this text, there are featured videos, which augment the background information and help make the topic more accessible for more visual students.
• You will also find a short list of reading books, including a featured novel that the unit builds upon.
• There are vocabulary words, places, and people to identify.
• Reading comprehension, critical thinking questions, and writing assignments are included.
• We add fun with hands-on activities and extra videos to watch that will bring the era to life.
• Some units also have cooking projects.

These studies are directed toward upper grades students, but some have resources for younger students so that the whole family can work together. Our family has used unit studies as curriculum for many years, and we hope that your family will enjoy these, too!

Product sample:  Paper Son & Angel Island Immigration  & Within These Lines & Japanese Internment

Includes:

• Casualties of War & Vietnam War
• No Promises in the Wind & the Great Depression
• Out of the Dust & the Dust Bowl
• The Watsons Go to Birmingham & Civil Rights
• Dusty Sourdough & Alaska
• The King of Mulberry Street & Ellis Island Immigration
• Paper Son & Angel Island Immigration
• The Red Menace & McCarthyism
• Johnny Tremain & Faces of the American Revolution
• Sounder & Sharecropping
• World War II Code Talkers
• Flashback Four: Hamilton-Burr Duel
• Within These Lines & Japanese Internment Camps
• Flashback Four: Titanic Mission
• Flashback Four: Lincoln Project
• The Diviners / The Great Gatsby & Roaring Twenties