Why did Alexander Hamilton dislike Aaron Burr so much?

Question

I know that he disliked Burr, and that he supported Jefferson instead of Burr during the 1800 election, but I don't know why he disliked Burr so much. Why did he?

Answer 1

(Sorry this is so long. . . this whole episode has been a pet question of mine for years. .. and it's hard to briefly distill the key points and correct common assumptions)

Good question. Frankly, I'm not quite sure HOW Hamilton's attitude toward Burr should be characterized. But my SHORT answer is -- from their political interactions, esp in New York, Hamilton BELIEVED rightly or wrongly (or at least too simplistically) that Burr had NO principle, but acted only for power. He thus regarded him as DANGEROUS and needing to be stopped.

So the question is, 'how did H come to this view?'
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Previous answers have laid out several areas in which Hamilton & Burr interacted.

For example --yes, it is true that as New York lawyers they faced each other in court. But their interactions there were hardly hostile; they even entertained each other. (They also on occasion worked on the SAME side of a case.)

Their political rivalry OF ITSELF is also not enough to explain things. (That is, it does not seem simply to have been because they were on opposite sides in political struggles, but because of what H percieived, or thought he perceived, in all these.) PERHAPS Burr's defeat of Schuyler, Hamilton's father-in-law was a factor, but that is not at all certain. . . the strong antagonism from Hamilton (there is no evidence from Burr till very late in the game) seems to have grown up a bit later.

Also, Hamilton participated in some rather rough political fights - esp. against Jefferson. And in these BOTH sides gave as good as they took.. if you look at the slanderous articles, pamphlets, etc. In fact, what is ODD in all this is that there seems to be no evidence that BURR took a significant role in this sort of warfare (unlike Hamilton and Jefferson).
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The best we have to go on is Hamilton's assessment of Burr in comments to others (mostly in letters). Unfortunately, we do not much of Burr's perspective on all this, in part because he was not given to speak out about such things... AND many of his papers (and his daughter, who might have passed them on) were lost at sea.

If we take Hamilton's own evaluation at face value, much of Hamilton's antagonism toward Burr was based on his conviction that Burr was totally UN-principled, a mere OPPORTUNIST looking for power. Though Hamilton fought Jefferson by many means, fair and foul, he viewed him as acting out of principles (even if mistaken ones!)

Thus he began to feel himself OBLIGATED to block Burr from gaining power (which is not necessarily the same thing as "hate"), fearing he could not be trusted with power. This is what accounts for his urging Federalist representatives to vote for Jefferson, not Burr, when the House had to settle the election of 1800.

That is not to say that Hamilton's assessment was balanced. It might as well be argued that Burr was more of a "centrist" to the Republican and Federalist extremes and could work, to some extent with BOTH sides. He was more of a 'coalition builder', at least on specific issues.

This concern seems to have blossomed through the various political contests of the 1790s, in which Burr often showed considerable political acumen, esp. in New York politics... which often brought the two men into direct competition. MAJOR case is Burr's outmaneuvering of Hamilton in lining up candidates for the NY legislative races in April 1800 -- the victory which (as well as securing Burr a place on the ticke with Jefferson).

Interestingly, the ONE great opportunity he had to seize power by such means -- when by accident (via a Constitutional flaw) he ended up tied with Jefferson in electoral votes for the Presidency-- Burr did NOT take. Apparently he only would have had to offer assurances on a few points to the Federalists and he would have their support. This he did not do. (People differ in their assessments of his motives --did he, this once, chicken out?-- but the point remains that his behavior here does not quite fit the 'power-hungry Cataline' Hamilton and Jefferson and their devotees portrayed him as.)

Without passing final judgment on Burr -- whose secretiveness, subtlety and terse communication complicate the matter-- it is fair to say that Hamilton INTERPRETED his careful, coy and 'calculating' mode (esp of doing politics) as evidence of insincerity. But whether they actually WERE or not is another matter. (The support and respect Burr enjoyed from other men of character suggests that he could hardly of been PURELY so devoid of principle as H seemed to believe. That is pure caricature.)
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A couple of corrections

a) It is not at all clear that Burr published Hamilton's anti-Adams pamphlet. (More importantly, there is no evidence H ever THOUGHT B did so, which is more to the point.) This is one of those truisms, assumed by many based almost completely on their assumptions about Burr.

b) There is NO basis (not even in the pbstimeline, which has some debatable interpretations) for saying that Hamilton's remarks against Burr in 1804 --which led to the fatal duel-- were some "minor" insult that Hamilton could not recall. Even those who believe Burr made the choice to confront Hamilton for his own ends, or out of general exasperation, generally acknowledge that Hamilton's attacks against Burr were, and had LONG been, virulent. This was, in fact, nothing new... Hamilton had let loose on other political opponents enough times, with strong, often slanderous attacks.

(What specific attack Hamilton made on this occasion is sheer speculation, though I'm rather inclined to the suggestion of one recent writer that it may have been not a 'simple' charge of something like 'womanizing' -- an accusation made many times, and not just against B--but an insinuation about an inappropriate relationship between Burr and his beloved daughter, Theodosia... bringing HER honor into play. Again, not provable, but certainly the sort of thing that could explain Burr's inability to let this slight pass, when he had let SO many pass before.)
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In the last dozen years there have been a number of good books on these two men and their relationship (some also including Jefferson in the mix). Each has its own take, so I generally advise checking out more than one

Here are some I have enjoyed, and that helped shape MY take :
Thomas Fleming,*Duel*
Joseph Wheelan, *Jefferson's Vendetta*
Arnold Rogow, *A Fatal Friendship*
Roger Kennedy, *Burr, Hamilton, and Jefferson : a study in character*

Ron Chernow's biography of Hamilton is also quite good, and can be of some help in this (but read it carefully, since Chernow tends to accept H's assessment of Burr without full scrutiny.)

(Perhaps the most positive take on Burr will be
in Nancy Isenberg's *Fallen Founder: The Life of Aaron Burr*.. just out in May, so I haven't read it yet)

Answer 2

It wasn't just that Hamilton disliked Burr - Burr also disliked Hamilton. The reasons were probably more complicated than we'll ever know, but I imagine some of the following had an effect:
1. Burr wanted a position with Washington's army. At first he was refused, then later got it but didn't get along with Washington and was quickly moved elsewhere. Hamilton became Washington's right hand and they develop a long friendship.
2. Hamilton is appointed Secretary of the Treasury by Washington. Burr runs for Senate and defeats Philip Schuyler - Hamilton's father in law. He has the support of two power ful families that are enemies of the Schuylers.
3. Hamilton wrote a paper making fun of John Adams, another person in his party. It was not intended for publication, but Burr had it published. This weakened Hamilton's political influence within his party.
4. As you noted, Hamilton campaigned for Jefferson (even though he didn't like him) against Burr (because he didn't trust him and because Burr has attacked him politically). Hamilton's actions may not have affected the vote much, and Burr didn't campaign for himself, but the act alone probably angered Burr.
5. Although he has lost a lot of political clout, Hamilton actively tries to keep the Federalists from supporting Burr for New York Governor. Again, Hamilton didn't have much influence, but Burr lost anyway.
6. Hamilton apparently made a minor negative comment about Burr (Hamilton claimed that he didn't even remember it). Burr challenges him to a duel, and Hamilton is killed.

Answer 3

Alexander was an honest man while Burr they said he was only in politics for the money
political rivals, burr was rich and corrupt while hamilton was a man of the people an immigrant who helped found the Bank

Answer 4

They were long-time political rivals in New York State and within the New York Bar (the legal profession).

Answer 5

The Renaissance ended one hundred fifty years earlier they have been born. And their techniques of democracy and government via the human beings obvious interior the statement of Independence have been inspired via John Locke and Jean-Jaqcues Rosseau who have been Enlightenment thinkers.

Answer 6

would you like anyone who wears a better suit then you plus wears a big bushy weavy mustache? I would't either...