http://news.yahoo.com/burr-vs-hamilt...103217294.html Burr vs. Hamilton: Behind the ultimate duel. <cite class="byline vcard top-line">NCC Staff <abbr>15 hours ago</abbr> </cite>

This Thursday marks the 209th anniversary of the deadly duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr. What caused the sitting vice president to gun down a Founding Father on the cliffs overlooking New York City?
Hamilton-burr-duel

The Burr-Hamilton Duel

Historians are still arguing over the deadly duel in Weehawken, New Jersey, which had its deep roots in both men’s service to General George Washington during the Revolutionary War.
The former friends became bitter enemies over political and personal issues, but a lot is still in dispute over the duel itself–and why it had to happen.
Here are five key points to remember as you draw your own conclusions.
1. The feud went back decades.
Burr and Hamilton were young officers for Washington in the fight with the British. It was Hamilton who got a promotion. Burr was a war hero, but he was overlooked by Washington when he allegedly caught Burr looking at some personal communications. In later years, President Washington turned down a Burr request for a generalship due to “intrigue” by Burr. Washington’s close adviser was Hamilton.
2. The men fought for control over New York politics.
Hamilton was the “big dog” in New York state politics, at least until Burr came along. The former allies became rivals when Burr ran for the U.S Senate against Hamilton’s father-in-law, Philip Schuyler. Burr won the election and he later became associated with the Tammany Society, the forerunners of the infamous Tammany Hall. Burr then surpassed Hamilton as a political force within New York.
3. The backstabbing, double-dealing election of 1800.
The election of 1800 would make J.R. Ewing blush: There were double crosses, and Hamilton and Burr were at the center of all the action. It was the first national election with political parties, but in a twist of fate, running mates Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr tied in the Electoral College voting (some forgot to cast one less vote for Burr). Hamilton then worked behind the scenes to defeat Burr in the House runoff election, after Burr decided he didn’t want to play second fiddle to Jefferson. The Hamilton-Burr feud was on–big time political feud -