History
Hamilton called Burr American Catiline and accused him of plotting usurpation
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How America's Founders Turned On Each Other | Founding Fathers EP 3
"No mortal can tell what his political principles are. He's talked all around the compass. The truth seems to be that he has no plan but that of getting power by any means and keeping it by all means. He will court and employ able and daring scoundrels of every party, and by availing himself of their assistance and of all the bad passions of society, he will in all likelihood attempt a usurpation."
In January 1801, Alexander Hamilton wrote a scathing letter comparing Aaron Burr to the Roman conspirator Catiline and warning that Burr would attempt to usurp power through any means necessary. Hamilton's prediction proved prescient when Burr later became involved in an apparent conspiracy to create his own country on the US southern border and was tried for treason. Hamilton's fierce opposition to Burr in the 1800 election, calling him a profligate bankrupt with no fixed principles, directly led to the animosity that resulted in their fatal duel.
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