To end everything we have to come back to politics. It’s a must. A must. So the duel is over, Hamilton is shot and dies the next day. What happens to Burr? What happens to the Federalist Party? Let’s deal with them one by one. One by one.

Aaron Burr was charged with murder in both New Jersey and New York. He ran down to the South and actually finished out his term as vice president. It is said that his farewell speech to Congress touched many and even changed many minds about Burr. However, the duel and death of Hamilton ruined Burr’s political career. Newspapers went to battle again, after the duel, with pro Federalist papers calling Burr a murderer. Public opinion, despite defense by Van Ness, swung against Burr and his political career was finished. It was finished. Later Burr was accused of treason for attempting to carve out part of the Louisiana Territory to secede from the United States. He could not get enough support for the move and was never convicted of treason. Late in life he actually returned to the duel site. Even as an old man he became energized when speaking of Hamilton.

As for the Federalist Party, it became less and less prominent in politics after Hamilton’s death. With the death of Washington and Hamilton, the party seemed aimless and leaderless. It is ironic that Hamilton took the duel in part to save himself as the leader of the Federalist Party, while the party’s fall after his death proves that he was always the anchor. Always the anchor.