The History channel's portrayal of Hamilton and Burr is so misleading and deceptive, painting an fictional portrait of these men. In regard to Burr stating he had a brief stint in the army, False. He became a hero several times prior to being wounded. His efforts to carry the dead General Montgomery off the battlefield and designing the 5000 man retreat from New York. After the war he became the top lawyer in New York, often beating Hamilton in court and besting him in the creation of the Bank of Manhattan. Throughout Burr's life he was constantly supporting young men in their education with his own funds ( see John Vanderlyn and Burr). Burr was a very loving father bringing up his daughter Theodosia to be one of the first "modern women", well versed in math, science, language and the arts., thanks to her dad. Never known to speck ill of any man and well liked, as shown in the original election results of 1800. His failure to turn the election over to Jefferson created an intense hatred of him by Jefferson. Jefferson would later have him tried for treason for an attempt to extricate Texas from Mexico. Burr was found not guilty and the damning letter supposedly written by Burr was later proved to be a forgery written by General Wilkinson.
Hamilton on the other hand was constantly speaking ill and seeding intrigue behind the backs of his contemporaries his entire life. Today he would be described as sleezy. Disloyal to his wife, his president (John Adams) and encouraging his son to fight a duel to cement his son's future political career. The history channel describes the Reynolds scandal as insider trading. False. It was the passing of rumors that the veterans of the revolution would not be receiving the money owed from the government's IOUs, allowing Reynolds to buy them at a rate of 10cents on the Dollar. The scheme was dependent upon Hamilton, as Secretary of the Treasury, not publicly disputing the rumor. When Hamilton's involvement was proven, he challenged Monroe to a duel. Burr stepped in and negotiated peace between the two men.
Many regard Hamilton's death as "Suicide by Burr". Burr wrote multiple time to Hamilton in an effort to avoid "an interview". Hamilton chose the interview, bringing large caliber pistols. Prior to the commencement of the duel, Hamilton put on his eye glasses and sighted in his pistol, making his intention very clear. Instead of firing his shot into the ground, he raised his pistol and shot in Burr's direction, sealing his fate.
In the spring of 1836 Sam Houston would annex Texas from Mexico. Burr would die later that year, yesterday's traitor, todays hero.
In conclusion, the reader may wish to read "Life of Aaron Burr" by J. Parton. Written shortly after Burr's death, it contains numerous antidotes from his contemporaries, both good and bad, and will give the reader an honest look at who Aaron Burr was, and not the completely false picture painted by the history channel.
