The Duel And The Dinner Flashcards
Who was the Vice President at the time of the duel and who was President?
Vice President: Aaron Burr
President: Thomas Jefferson
Explain what the code duello was and how it impacted the way this event was recorded.
Honor code of how a duel is supposed to happen. No witnesses. Burr was the only witness left alive to see every aspect of the duel, but he was accused of using the duel to intentionally murder Hamilton.
Describe the contrasting backgrounds of Hamilton and his opponent and how this impacted their actions regarding this “meeting”.
Hamilton came from a humble background, and feels like he always has to try to prove himself and his worth. He’s used to talking his way out of duels, but this time he feels like he has something to prove. He wants to prove that he is an honorable man that won’t back down from a fight. All of the founding fathers knew that each and every action and decision they made was making history. Hamilton wanted to be remembered for doing the honorable thing . Burr was raised wealthy, always used to getting his way. He sees Hamilton as the obstacle in every point of his career.
What was the status of the Federalist Party in 1804 and how did this impact Hamilton’s actions? What was the status of the Republicans?
The Federalist Party was declining.
Why was Burr so angry with Hamilton? Briefly describe their history including Hamilton and Burr’s political opposition.
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What do we know about Hamilton’s intentions based on his will? What do we know about Burr’s intentions?
Hamilton intended to throw away his shot, but hoped that by showing up he would satisfy Burr’s anger and they would both walk away safely. No one knew what Burr was intending, only that he was known to kill his opponents in duels.
Who initiated the duel that took place in July 1804 and why? How does Ellis explain why the political disagreements were so personal and intense?
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Describe what happened at the “meeting” and what the consequences were for both participants.
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To what extent did these men and other founding brothers believe character was a factor to consider in choosing political leaders?
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According to the traditional story, what took place at the Dinner described in this chapter? When and where was the dinner held, who attended, and what two issues were the participants willing to resolve?
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One commentator on this chapter makes the statement, “Jefferson’s version of the dinner is so idealistic that it borders on fiction.” What do you think he means?
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In Jefferson’s version of the story, who is the hero? Put this together with a comment from Ellis that “Jefferson’s account of the dinner is the only extant one.” What is significant about this statement?
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Shortly after the dinner took place, both the Assumption Bill and Residence Bill passed the House of Representatives with almost identical results. How did newspaper reporters interpret this? Do you think they were right?
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What did Jefferson say about this in his letter to Monroe to justify the outcome? How did Monroe respond?
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Why did Hamilton consider the Assumption Bill vital to the nation’s survival? What two arguments did Madison use to oppose it?
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