Analysis Of The Great Conspiracy By Donald Barr Chidsey

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The Great Conspiracy is a book written by Donald Barr Chidsey. The book is an overview of the events that surrounded Burr after his famous duel with Alexander Hamilton. The book also includes his treason trial, and also finishes with his last few years spent in Europe and New York. There was defiantly a lot of mystery about the man and the stuff he was believed to be involved in. Many historians have tried to discover the truth behind the man this fascinating man. Chidsey explores the nature and motives of the quiet, well-mannered, man of honor, with a significantly different view of him than what other authors have shown. The author comes off as almost defending the suspected traitor. Chidsey cites many publications and references to support …show more content…

This is an important part of the book because it is in this debate and subsequent decisions that had a lot to do with the shaping the nation. The Louisiana Purchase being such an enormous amount of land that the United States government had virtually no control over. It opened the door to opportunity for people, like Aaron Burr. Then the story puts the reader on the shores of the north river in New Jersey, following Burr as he awaits Hamilton in the infamous duel between the two. The two best lawyers in New York were there because of a dispute about negative words being printed in the paper. Chidsey writes this part very carefully. When it came to the actual duel, he paints the picture of two willing gentlemen taking their pistols and following all the preset rules for a duel back during that time period. Hamilton won the right to say “present” at which time both of the men would fire. Both men fired, but Hamilton’s shot went high. Chidsey makes a note as to this and writes later that “no sides would taken here in the dispute that raged for years, and may still be raging in remote corners of libraries, as to whether Hamilton or Burr shot …show more content…

he tried to seduce people over there to pour their money into his schemes just like before but was met with less than success. He returned to the states in May 1812. He tried to get in contact with his beloved daughter Theodosia, and his grandson Aaron Burr Alston. This was probably the one reason he came back to the states . Unfortunately Theodosia and young Aaron died when the ship they were traveling on sunk into the icy Atlantic. This practically ended ended all hope of life for Burr and he died a couple of years later in New