Aaron Burr

Aaron Burr

There is has been much speculation as to who murdered President Thomas Jefferson in March of 1809. It is apparent that Aaron Burr had reasons for wanting the President dead. They had become enemies during their race for the presidency and remained on unfriendly terms throughout their time serving together as President and Vice President. When running for re-election, Jefferson dropped Burr from his ticket creating an even wider rift between them. Burr was known for his violent nature, having killed Alexander Hamilton during a duel, which they had entered into as a means of settling a dispute. It is also believed that Burr had intended to overthrow the United States government by carrying out an elaborate scheme involving the creation of a Latin American empire. Jefferson issued a warrant for his arrest after being informed of the plan. Thus adding to Burr’s motives for wanting to murder him.

President Thomas Jefferson, who was found dead on March 1, 1809. Aaron Burr is considered a prime suspect in the case of his murder. The terrible relationship between these two men presents overwhelming motive for his committing the crime. Burr was approached by Jefferson and Madison to lend his support to the Jeffersonians in the election of 1800. They had sought his help in the campaign because of his influence in New York city and the New York legislature. Burr agreed to help and sponsored a bill passed by the New York Assembly, which created the “Manhattan Water Company” and generated money for Jefferson’s campaign.

Aaron Burr is known as the Father of modern political campaigning. He was successful in procuring a victory for his slate of New York City and Electors over Alexander Hamilton’s Federalist slate. This event further damaged the relationship between former friends, Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton. Burr with the assistance of members of Tammany Hall, began petitioning votes. He even went so far as to supply a means of transportation for voters on election day. He won the day and was then added to the Democratic-Republican presidential ticket in the 1800 election alongside Jefferson. With seventy-three electoral votes each, Burr and Jefferson tied for the presidency.

It was apparent that the party favored Jefferson for the presidency and wanted Burr to assume the vice-presidential position. However, it was up to the House of Representatives to choose. A strong faction among the Federalists made a few attempts to guarantee the election of Burr, but these efforts failed. The opposition of Hamilton can be viewed as part of the cause of these failures, however, Burr was also to blame due to his lack of effort put forth to gain votes. He wrote to Jefferson and in his letters he emphasized his promise to be Vice-President. While voting in the Congress remained at a standstill, he again wrote to Jefferson, offering eliminate himself from the election if Jefferson so desired. Finally, the voting was done and Jefferson was elected President and Burr took his place as Vice-President.

The letters sent by Burr to Thomas Jefferson made no impression upon him. He had developed a distrust of Burr and from the very start of his presidency, he shut him out of party matters. The relationship between Jefferson and Burr had deteriorated greatly. The reason for this might have been the casual attitude taken by Burr regarding politics. Jefferson had little respect for this aspect of Burr’s personality as he valued politics and the importance he believed that it had in American society. Aaron Burr performed his duties as Vice-President, or president of the Senate, with fairness and a well-respected judicial manner. During his time as Vice-President, he was admired by even his bitterest enemies.

Jefferson made it clear that he intended to drop Burr from his ticket in the 1804 election, an action that only added to the dislike Burr already felt for Jefferson. He decided to run for the governor ship of New York, but lost. Hamilton still held great animosity for Burr and at one