UT history professor H.W. Brands’ latest book The Heartbreak of Aaron Burr offers a softer perspective of one of American history’s most controversial figures. It’s true Burr gets a bad rap. Killing Alexander Hamilton in a duel and getting accused of treason didn’t sit well with either the Federalists or the Republicans. Neither did incurring a bunch of debt. However, in spite of political power plays and poorly planned financial dealings, Burr seemed to be ahead of his time, at least on some important issues.
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Blame superblogger Ezra Klein (and every AP US History teacher I know) for sending around this lively White House performance of the story of Alexander Hamilton from the perspective of his eventual assassin Aaron Burr:... Read Post
Paul Collins's new book explores the sensational murder trial for which political rivals Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr joined forces as a legal dream team. History may be written by the victors, but Alexander Hamilton became a v... Read Post