Where did Aaron Burr flee to after he killed Alexander Hamilton?

Question

I think he flee to England or France. does anyone know the answer?

Answer 1

South Carolina is not quite right, and perhaps a bit misleading. In fact, the whole bit about "fleeing" is slightly off, as is the word "killing". Burr was not at this time quite the great fugitive many now think (that was very brief, and only in a couple of places).

First, Burr was a New Yorker. The DUEL with Hamilton had taken place in New Jersey, where dueling was legal. But Federalists (Hamilton's party) began raising all sorts of charges, and a rival faction of New York Republicans (supporters of DeWitt Clinton) was happy to go along. The idea that Burr acted "in cold blood" was fed by papers H wrote just before the duel in which H claimed he was planning to "throw away his shot". (Burr could not have known this AND H's behavior at the dueling grounds --such as cleaning his glasses, taking aim-- undercuts the claim. It's quite possible H intended that, IF he should die in the duel, he would do some final political damage to Burr through these papers, or perhaps just that people would think better of him for 'not really wanting to duel'.)

So Burr slipped across the river to New Jersey, then to Philadelphia. Since dueling was still widely accepted in the South --so that Burr was considered to have acted with honor-- he spent much of the next several months in the South. (That included South Carolina, naturally, since that's where his daughter and son-in-law lived [his son-in-law was a prominent leader in the state, at one point the governor].)

In December (the duel was in July) Burr returned to Washington D.C., for the final session of Congress, to preside over the Senate. During that time he presided over the impeachment trial of Federalist Supreme Court Justice Samuel Chase -- whom the Republicans had targeted. In fact, Burr won plaudits from the FEDERALISTS for his firm, fair handling of the trial, which he demanded be conducted soberly, not as a mere matter of politics. As a result Chase was ACQUITTED. (Burr also set important precedents here -- that impeachments should not be used for merely political reasons, and that the Congress would not lightly dismiss judges appointed by the other party, thus maintaining the judiciary's independence.)

On March 2 Burr gave a farewell speech that many of both parties found extremely moving. He then headed out west to follow up on a possible land deal and a 'filibuster' idea (see below).

So you can see a lot of the heat immediately after Hamilton's death quickly cooled down. New Jersey, which had under political pressure from Federalists, charge Burr with murder (though, note, dueling was LEGAL there), dropped the charges.

In other words, Burr did NOT turn into a fugitive on the run, nor was he widely regarded as a villain (that popular idea took hold later... much of it do to propagandists for Hamilton and Jefferson). He DID later go to Europe for four+ years -- after being acquitted of treason in 1807.

(THAT is a whole nother story in which the sitting President played a large, and inappropriate role -- an incident that might rightly be called "Jefferson's Vendetta", as a recent author labels it. Jefferson had found Burr's political power and skill in New York helpful in gaining Northern votes, but a threat to HIS plans for a 'Virginia dynasty' --which also explains how J later got the idea Burr had tried to snatch the Presidency . So J chose to believe the accusations of General Wilkinson, a man he otherwise distrusted and who has since been proved to have been a double agent working for the Spanish, and who even tampered a letter he offered as the strongest evidence against Burr! The evidence is strong that Burr was positioning himself, IN CASE war broke out with Spain --which appeared likely-- to lead a "filibuster" to take away some SPANISH territory for the U.S., NOT to break off the Western territories of the U.S., much less overthrow the government, as a few claimed These sorts of schemes were common in the 19th century, and actually legal in wartime, but Burr was unwise to pursue it without first getting some sort of quiet approval from Jefferson.)
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For more on Burr, et.al --

There are some very good recent books on these try interconnected men --Hamilton, Jefferson and Burr-- that give a much better picture than the three or four popular MIS-conceptions, mainly about Burr ("Burr made an underhanded play for the Presidency" in 1800 --he did not--"Burr killed Hamilton (and became a fugitive)"-- LOTS of errors about that! including the fact that Hamilton HAD slurred Burr and Burr began by seeking an APOLOGY Hamilton refused to give-- and "Burr was guilty of treason" --see above.)

If you're interesting (it's a fascinating subject and throws a LOT of light on the beginnings of American political parties, and the strengths AND weaknesses of all three men), check out one or more of these:

Joseph Whelan. *Jefferson's Vendetta*
Roger Kennedy, *Burr, Hamilton, and Jefferson : a study in character*
Nancy Isenberg. *Fallen Founder: The Life of Aaron Burr* (brand new -- I'm in the midst of it now, and it is EXCELLENT)

You might also take a look at Warren Burger's article, "Thomas Jefferson and the Court" (brings in his dealings with Burr)
http://www.supremecourthistory.org/04_library/subs_volumes/04_c09_m.html

Answer 2

At that point a duel was once authorized. Get over it. EDIT: he federal govt made the train of duel unlawful in 1839. Even so, duelling persevered to be allowed in New Jersey till no less than 1845

Answer 3

He fled to South Carolina

Answer 4

south carolina